Expanding the Hualapai Adult Wellness Court

The Hualapai Tribe has a fully implemented Tribal-Healing-to-Wellness Court Program that meets and exceeds all federal requirements of the BJA’s FY 2021 Adult Drug Court and Veterans’ Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program. The program uses evidence-based protocols from start to finish to improve outcomes for participants. Participant risk and need is measured via the State of Arizona’s validated Offender Screening Tool. Alcohol and Other Drug Assessments, Behavioral Health Assessments and treatment are provided by the Tribe’s Health Education and Wellness Department.

The Wellness Court delivers services utilizing a thoroughly tested program model, the Community Reinforcement Approach. This approach utilizes motivational interviews and cognitive behavior therapy, rather than confront the participant with unpleasant and costly consequences of substance abuse. Research indicates this program style is more efficacious when utilizing Medication-Assisted Treatments, for which psychiatric diagnosis and medication is made available within the tribe’s jurisdiction via the Tribe’s Health Education and Wellness Department.

Due to decreased revenue related to Covid-19 epidemic the program capacity for the Hualapai Wellness Court program has reduced to 5 enrolled participants, and is only accepting participants with medium risk for recidivism and with moderate criminogenic needs. This lowered enrollment only represents a very small percentage of the offenders, leaving a large portion of the community subject to traditional prosecution. Prior to the reduction in workforce, the capacity for the Wellness Program was 30 with an annual enrollment of 60 participants.

Through the grant’s funding, our court could staff one full-time Compliance Officer, and assist in funding 25% of the Tribal Court Associate Judge’s regular wages. The program would be able to expand to a maximum 20 active participants, an annual enrollment of 40 participants, and an expected 20-30 graduates per year. The funding from the grant would be able assist a total of 160 individuals with approximately 80-120 graduates, based off of previous graduation rates.