1 Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime The TASC Model Elizabeth A. Peyton Presentation at the 7 th National Conference on Drugs and Crime Orlando, Florida, October 2000

2 Understanding the Problem  The impact of substance abuse on our justice & treatment systems is astounding  High levels of substance abuse in offender populations

3  1100%  85%  50%

4 Only a small percentage of inmates receive treatment

5 Offenders in the community are substance involved & Incarceration is expensive  Costs to incarcerate in state and federal prisons and jails will exceed $41 Billion in 2000 (Camp, 1999)  Many states spend more money on prisons than on higher education (Justice Policy Institute, 1999)

6  The use of illicit drugs & alcohol is a central factor driving correctional growth.  Treatment is effective as reducing substance abuse & related criminal activity.  Treatment is cost effective.  Providing adequate services to justice populations is difficult.

7 Managed Care is Here  In most jurisdictions, the adoption of managed care techniques has reduced access to services  Lengths of stay are shortened  Thresholds for admission to intensive treatment have increased  Referral and admission procedures are more complex, and may involve third-party authorization

8 What is TASC?  A program model and methodology to:  Engage persons referred by the justice system into substance abuse treatment and other services  Collaborate with both justice and treatment to ensure that appropriate and adequate services are available for justice clients  The 13 Critical Elements define TASC

9 TASC Provides the Infrastructure for  managing substance involved persons throughout the justice process  providing support during transitions  engaging clients at all points in the justice system  integrating services into justice system processing

10 Systems Coordination Organizational Operational 13 Critical Elements

11 Systems Coordination Elements

12 A Process to Coordinate Justice, Treatment & other Systems Develop collaborative approaches to integrate treatment & justice to provide a seamless continuum of treatment and accountability Develop & expand treatment networks Influence the policies, procedures & priorities of the justice & treatment systems  Ensure adequate & appropriate services for justice clients Element 1

13 Procedures for Providing Information & Cross-Training to justice, treatment & other systems Continuously develop skills & relationships Keep policymakers & practitioners current about status of & effective strategies for managing substance involved justice populations Element 2

14 Organizational Elements

15 A Broad Base of Support from the Justice System with a Formal System for Effective Communication  Establish & maintain a coordinated effort & understanding for referrals between TASC & justice system components Element 3

16 A Broad Base of Support by the Treatment & Other Social Services Community  Establish and maintain the linkages & understanding to:  Ensure availability & quality of treatment for justice clients  Make client referrals  Conduct tracking, monitoring & case management activities Element 4

17 Organizational Integrity  Ensure TASC program integrity and organizational capability to carry out the program mission  Ensure objectivity and autonomy  Over-identification with either system can limit TASC’s credibility and functioning Element 5

18 Policies and procedures for regular staff training  Ensure that all staff understand the TASC mission, philosophies & procedures to ensure competency  TASC staff must be experts in all participating systems  TASC staff must have skills to connect with & manage clients  Clinical & non-clinical staff can be effective Element 6

19 A management information system with a program evaluation design  Provide timely and accurate information  for developing & managing program services  for determining & improving operational effectiveness  for policymakers & funding sources  to meet public information needs Element 7

20 Important Data Elements  Number of potential clients identified & referred; outcome of referral; reasons for exclusion; demographics; screening &/or assessment information  Demographic & socioeconomic characteristics of all admitted clients by referral source  Client characteristics including justice & substance abuse history & status; screening & assessment results; drug screen results; & mental health status

21 Important Data Elements  Records of all contacts & events that occur at TASC, treatment, other services & the justice system, along with outcomes of those events  Costs associated with delivery of client services  Performance measures, including process & outcome

22 Operational Elements

23 Clearly Defined Client Eligibility Criteria Set clear standards for inclusion & exclusion of individuals from TASC Justice system involvement Current &/or previous AOD involvement Informed voluntary consent Element 8

24 Performing Client Centered Case Management Maintain ongoing connection with each client as he/she moves through various justice processes & multiple programs Communicate progress & changes regularly to both justice & treatment Provide the leverage, support & advocacy to encourage treatment engagement & retention Intervene before behavior results in treatment termination Element 9

25 Case Management Ties everything together & provides structure in and between systems that aren’t very systematically organized The mortar that holds everything together

26 Primary Functions of TASC Case Management Screening & assessment Referral & linkage to services Ensuring access to services Monitoring progress through client contact & chemical testing

27 Primary Functions of TASC Case Management Communicating with all relevant parties Providing encouragement & support Providing advocacy Maintaining primary responsibility for the client as he/she participates in various justice & treatment programs & interventions

28 TASC Case Management Can be distinguished from traditional case management by:  its level of assertiveness  its ongoing nature  its focus on long-term positive outcomes resulting from multiple interventions  its continual inter-agency & inter- system communication

29 Screening Procedures for Identification of TASC Clients within the Justice System Determine appropriateness & suitability for treatment Determine TASC eligibility Begin building a plan for treatment & supervision Element 10

30 Documented Procedures for Assessment & Referral Provide a standardized assessment that includes clinical, justice & other information Referral to an appropriate level of care that is coordinated with justice requirements Development of a comprehensive case management plan Element 11

31 Assessment and Referral Issues Assessments should include, at a minimum:  Chemical dependency status  Justice involvement & justice history  Social history  Agreement to participate in TASC & treatment - and understanding of confidentiality rules If treatment is not immediately available, monitoring by TASC should be available for an interim period

32 Policies, Procedures & Protocols for Monitoring Drug & Alcohol Use through Chemical Testing Reliably monitor & report client’s use of or abstinence from alcohol & other drugs to encourage compliance & to facilitate the therapeutic process Element 12

33 Competency with Diverse Populations Ensure that TASC & treatment delivery systems are sensitive to & provide relevant services regardless of client race, culture, religion, gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation Treatment engagement & success is dependent on the ability programs & counselors have to connect with the client Element 13

34 Effectiveness of TASC TASC programming is effective in:  Identifying populations in great need of treatment  Assessing the nature & extent of drug use patterns & specific treatment needs  Referring to treatment  Serving as a linkage between justice & treatment  Providing monitoring services  Retaining clients in treatment longer, with better post-treatment success Inciardi and McBride, 1991

35 Effectiveness of TASC TASC clients remain in treatment six to seven weeks longer than voluntary clients or other criminal justice referrals Hubbard et. al., 1989

36 Effectiveness of TASC Involvement in TASC results in the provision of significantly more substance abuse & other services compared to non- TASC control groups In study sites, TASC had the strongest effect at reducing drug use & drug crimes with the most problematic offenders Turner and Longshore, 1998

37 Effectiveness of TASC Clients diverted to TASC through Maricopa County’s Do Drugs Do Time program had a 22% recidivism rate, compared to 54% of matched clients who didn’t receive TASC services Hepburn, 1996

38 Effectiveness of TASC In 1998, New York City TASC diverted almost 2,000 offenders from prison & into treatment. 70% of participants have successfully completed the program since its inception in Rearrest rates 12 months after completion remained around 10% in three separate studies. EAC, 1999

39 Benefits of TASC Provides the organizational infrastructure to manage substance involved offenders in a logical, organized & cost effective fashion Provides the organizational infrastructure to support other programming, including drug courts, re-entry management programs, Breaking the Cycle, networks, mental health courts, & other initiatives to integrate treatment into justice processes

40 Benefits of TASC Uses resources efficiently by screening, assessing & placing justice clients in the appropriate level of care - and ensuring that transitional & aftercare needs are met Builds the capacity & capability of treatment to serve justice populations effectively through the development of treatment networks

41 Benefits of TASC Manages clients to make sure they access & benefit from treatment Ensures that treatment requirements are coordinated with justice processes

42 Benefits of TASC Improves inter-system communication Ensures that treatment is available to coincide with or capitalize on the “motivational opportunities” created by justice processing Augments available services through case management, treatment readiness & chemical testing - and by using justice system leverage to encourage treatment compliance

43 TASC : Client & Systems Management