Maryland RSAT Initiative

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Formula Grant Program (RSAT) assists states and local governments in developing and implementing substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities. The RSAT Program also assists states and local governments in creating and maintaining community-based aftercare services for offenders who are released from institutionally based substance abuse programs. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Formula Grant funds may be used to implement three types of programs. At least 10 percent of the total state allocation for FY 2008 shall be made available to local correctional and detention facilities (provided such facilities exist) for either residential substance abuse treatment programs or jail-based substance abuse treatment programs as defined below.

The Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP) will use the FY 2009 RSAT funds to provide juvenile offenders with services to treat substance abuse, mental health issues, and concurring disorders. The primary goal of the FY 2009 RSAT program will be to establish an RSAT program in conjunction with the Department of Juvenile Services in at least one of the juvenile detention facilities in Maryland. A secondary goal of the program will be to encourage the commitment of additional state and local resources to support substance abuse treatment and aftercare for juvenile offenders.

A Notice of Funding Availability will be posted to solicit applications for RSAT programming to be operated at juvenile facilities throughout the state. Applications submitted will be evaluated by third party reviewers to ensure that proposed projects are viable, and that all RSAT program requirements are met. The funding will be prioritized using a risk-driven process, and by efforts to work in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Services, an organization whose primary responsibility is to oversee the administration of juvenile justice and detention in Maryland. Aftercare services will be evaluated and prioritized according to criteria such as: (a) the stability of community-based support services, (b) transitional housing plans, (c) educational and vocational transition plans, (d) continued non-residential therapy, (e) family support, and (f) offender tracking and monitoring.

Maryland's RSAT program will be coordinated at the state and local levels through the State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, which is composed of key state Cabinet Secretaries, judges, legislators, and citizens.

NCA/NCF