December 2006 Progress Report

Cecil County Alcohol and Drug Council

Progress Report – December, 2006

Vision: A community free from substance abuse and dependence. Mission: To reduce substance abuse and dependence and related consequences through development and implementation of a plan, strategies and priorities for meeting the identified needs of the general public, and the criminal justice system for alcohol and drug evaluation, prevention and treatment services. The Cecil County Alcohol and Drug Council meets each month at the Cecil County Health Department. Organizationally, the council has a chair and co-chairperson and a secretary as established by bylaws instituted by the membership. A list of members and contact information is enclosed with this report. Maintaining steady attendance at monthly meetings has been a challenge as funding to support the strategic plan for the council has been delayed and, therefore, progress has been slower than hoped when the council was initially established. The strategic plan remains as it was initially formatted but will be reviewed and updated as needed. The council has, and will continue to, develop work groups as special projects are undertaken. The following is a summary of activities and accomplishments of the Cecil County Alcohol and Drug Council through the end of December, 2006. Accomplishments are highlighted in red. Goal 1: Establish an integrated continuum of adult substance abuse treatment services that will be accessible to the residents of Cecil County. Goal 1- This area was the priority focus identified in the strategic plan. Council has allocated funding received from ADAA in the amount of $19,266 for the purchase of bed time from approved providers. The process and providers are already in place via the purchase of care program via Cigarette Restitution funding. This has permitted some expansion of available treatment interventions and progress toward this goal, specifically under Objective A. Objective A: Extend residential treatment services (20 additional beds) for individuals with substance abuse disorders. Some progress had been made toward this objective. With additional funds in the amount of $19,266, clients who have been referred for detoxification services (under the previously existing purchase of care program) have been able to benefit from an extension of bed days beyond the 5 days generally allotted for detox. This has provided a greater foundation for the client’s recovery. Measure: Reduce the number of clients on the waiting list at the A.F. Whitsitt Center for Inpatient Care by 50%. Objective B: Restore funding for Purchase of Care Program for detoxification services. Objective B was previously accomplished and additional funding was allocated from the Cecil County Health Department due to vacancies and increased collections through the Alcohol and Drug Center. This was reported in the June, 2006 report on progress. Measure: Restore the 20% of funding for Purchase of Care Program that was eliminated in the FY 2006 allocation. Objective C: Expand transitional housing services for individuals in need of ongoing long-term substance abuse care to include services for women and women with children. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Establish additional transitional housing services. Objective D: Enhance existing outpatient substance abuse treatment to allow for increased intensity and contact with clients referred through the criminal justice system. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Expand staffing, space and related resources (at the Cecil County Health Department, Cecil County Detention Center and Community Adult Rehabilitation Center Unit) for the provision of substance abuse services Objective E: Establish non-hospital crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing mental health crises with or without coexisting substance abuse concerns. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Complete a feasibility study for non-hospital crisis intervention services. Performance Target: Improve access for Cecil County residents to integrated treatment services. Goal 2: Establish and enhance resources and programs to address the substance abuse concerns among individuals referred by the criminal justice system. Objective A: Explore the feasibility of a Drug Court through the Cecil County Circuit Court. Objective A has been completed as Adult Treatment Drug Court has been operational since late May. At this time, there are 8 clients enrolled in the program. Measure: Complete feasibility study for a Circuit Court Drug Court. Objective B: Maintain jail-based treatment services at the Cecil County Detention Center and Community Adult Rehabilitation Center Units. Objective B has been accomplished as jail-based treatment services are continuing. Measure: Maintain 45 treatment slots at the Cecil County Detention Center and Community Adult Rehabilitation Center Units. Objective C: Explore the feasibility of a Re-Entry Drug Court for offenders serving sentences at the Cecil County Detention Center and Community Adult Rehabilitation Center Units. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Complete feasibility study for a Re-Entry Drug Court. Performance Target: Improved substance abuse related resources for individuals involved with the criminal justice system. Goal 3: Establish an integrated continuum of substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment services that will be accessible to the adolescents and families of Cecil County. Objective A: Extend residential treatment services (10 additional beds or 10% of adolescents in treatment) for individuals with substance abuse disorders. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Reduce the number of adolescents referred outside of the county for inpatient treatment. Objective B: Establish education and counseling services in the county including case management for the families of substance abusing adolescents. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Establish services for the families of adolescents in substance abuse treatment. Objective C: Use appropriate evidenced-based prevention programs in all settings. Evidenced-based prevention services are in place through the Cecil County Health Department’s Prevention Program as well as through the public schools for children grades K-12. Measure: Reduce the prevalence of substance abuse among adolescents as evidenced by the Maryland Adolescent Survey, Department of Juvenile Justice referrals and school suspensions related to substance abuse. Objective D: Establish non-hospital crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing mental health crises with or without coexisting substance abuse concerns. Additional funding is needed in order to accomplish this goal. Measure: Complete a feasibility study for non-hospital crisis intervention services. Performance Target: Improve access for Cecil County adolescents and their families to integrated prevention, intervention and treatment services. Goal 4: Educate and assist families in Cecil County to live healthy and drug free lives. Objective A: Increase awareness among healthcare providers as to the importance of screening their patients for substance abuse as well as resources for treatment and intervention in the community. Measure: Increase the percentage (to 100%) of healthcare providers who routinely screen and refer patients experiencing substance abuse concerns. Objective B: Utilize environmental strategies to change individual and community norms. Council partnered with Union-LEAD program to explore needs of employers regarding substance abuse intervention in the workplace so that we could improve outreach and services but we have not yet had a full report on the project. Measure: Reduce the prevalence of high risk substance abusing behaviors among residents as indicated the Cecil County Community Health Survey and Maryland Adolescent Survey. Performance Target: Increased awareness of substance abuse related concerns among Cecil County residents. .