Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals
Washington Association of Drug Courts
Five Year Strategic Plan 2021 Accomplishments
Goal 1: Promote best practices for all therapeutic courts in Washington
Strategies:
A. Provide training and support for the use of best practices at all WSADCP training conferences.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Virtual Series in Spring of 2021
- Supported virtual events sponsored by Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR)
B. Encourage the use of evidence based and best practices in all therapeutic courts.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Virtual Series in Spring of 2021
- Supported virtual events sponsored by DBHR
C. Establish a subcommittee composed of former therapeutic court participants to provide participant input on standards of care and best practices.
D. Consider establishing a mentoring program for new therapeutic courts and court professionals.
E. Consider establishing a credentialing and/or affiliation policy and process for therapeutic courts in Washington.
Goal 2: Strengthen our ability to provide services and resources to therapeutic courts in Washington.
Strategies:
A. Continue to provide high quality training for therapeutic court professionals across the state.
2021 Accomplishments
- Virtual Series in Spring of 2021
- Supported virtual events sponsored by DBHR
B. Improve membership tracking and provide opportunities for members to communicate with each other.
2021 Accomplishments
- Added a section to the WSADCP website that includes a list of all the therapeutic courts in Washington. This list includes names and contact information for each court.
C. Design a new website to provide information resources for therapeutic court professionals.
2021 Accomplishments
- Identified and trained a “webmaster” on how to edit the WSADCP website.
- Webmaster updated the website to make it user-friendly.
D. Develop and share advocacy resources such as a speaker’s bureau, talking points, handouts, PowerPoint shows, etc. for use in presentations, especially those who are starting a new therapeutic court.
Goal 3: Strengthen our advocacy efforts for therapeutic courts across the state.
Strategies:
A. Continue to represent the interests of therapeutic court professionals on the Criminal Justice Treatment Account (CJTA) panel and with DBHR.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Have member and alternate on the CJTA panel.
- Completed survey of therapeutic courts (including referral numbers, challenges, and innovations) presented at CJTA panel.
B. Continue legislative advocacy to expand resources (including CJTA) and capacity for therapeutic courts, treatment, and recovery support services throughout the state.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Contracted with Evergreen Public Affairs for lobbying and consultation services.
- 2021 Vice-President served as liaison to Evergreen Public Affairs and monitored legislative activities that could impact therapeutic court services.
- Legislative Accomplishments:
- SB 5293 creating a Mental Health Sentencing Alternative: prevented CJTA grab for mental health evaluations (not an allowable expense).
- SB 5476 addressing Blake: navigated “decriminalization” with statement in support of serving individuals whose SUD/crimes are impacting the community (property crimes). Also separate $4.5 million appropriation for District and Municipal Courts.
- Budget: Appropriated entire CJTA $21 million. Able to continue services for those impacted by Blake. $9 million proviso – language updated to allow continued funding for new therapeutic courts or expand 2020-2021 services. Language focused on creation of new courts removed (separate appropriation in SB 5476 instead).
C. Support increased capacity for standardized data collection and analysis to measure the effectiveness of therapeutic courts, especially for high-risk/high-need offenders.
D. Create messaging to distinguish therapeutic courts from other diversion programs to demonstrate unique strengths of the model for appropriate offenders.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Drug Court Month Proclamation by Governor
E. Consider organizing a legislative advocacy day for therapeutic court professionals.
F. Create a WSADCP legislative or public policy committee.
Goal 4: Expand support and membership to all therapeutic courts in Washington.
Strategies:
A. Expand legislative advocacy to include all therapeutic courts.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Worked with Evergreen Public Affairs to monitor and promote support of all therapeutic courts, including $4.5 million for District/Municipal Courts in SB 5476.
B. Recruit representation from other therapeutic courts within a jurisdiction and throughout the state.
2021 Accomplishments:
- Added a representative from another therapeutic court to the Board.
C. Encourage collaboration between therapeutic courts within a jurisdiction and through the state.
D. Seek higher participation and representation from tribal therapeutic courts.