COSSAP Hawaii

The First Circuit Court, State of Hawaii is requesting funding to implement the COSSAP Hawaii program. This project will provide treatment, recovery support services and family court interventions by implementing and expanding comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by drugs of abuse in the adult and juvenile justice system on Oahu, Hawaii.   Family Court, Juvenile Client Services Branch (JCSB), Juvenile Intake and Probation Section (JIPS) officers will use the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model for early identification and intervention with youth whose patterns of alcohol and/or drug use put themselves and the community at risk. Youth flagged by the screening tool for further analysis will be provided with an evidence-based substance abuse assessment and if requiring more than brief interventions, youth will be provided treatment services. A parent engagement approach within JIPS will be implemented to engage, educate, and support families of youth at risk for substance use. JIPS staff will be trained on adolescent substance use and family engagement.  The Adult Client Services Branch (ACSB) will provide probation officers (POs) an alternative to monitoring substance use using virtual oral testing procedures for those clients facing barriers to in-person testing. Additionally, the ACSB will provide clean and sober housing for clients being released from jail and are homeless. These clients will also be provided case management services to further increase their success on probation.   This program will help both the Family Court and ACSB provide much needed client treatment and support services currently facing a budget shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By using the SBIRT model upon intake, staff will be able to screen youth early, assess degrees of risk, conduct a brief intervention, and refer to treatment to increase chances of identifying use and providing treatment for substance use.  In addition to the SBIRT model, having an evidence-based family intervention program can provide appropriate frameworks for engaging families and supporting youth.  Providing housing and a case management support system for adult clients will increase their chances of a successful recovery. By providing a virtual oral drug monitoring program for adult clients, barriers to in-person visits will decrease and adherence to court supervision will improve which will increase their ability to navigate their journey out of the criminal justice system.