Newnan St

THE NEW WEST GEORGIA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SEEKS TO CREATE A PRE-ADJUDICATION, POST-ADJUDICATION, AND VIOLATION OF PROBATION COURT THAT SERVES HIGH-RISK, HIGH-NEED JUSTICE-INVOLVED VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A FELONY AND/OR MISDEMEANOR IN RURAL CARROLL, HEARD, HARLSON, AND POLK COUNTIES. THE WEST GEORGIA VETERANS TREATMENT COURT WILL PRIORITIZE VETERANS WHO HAVE A PRIMARY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND SECONDARY MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR TRAUMA DISORDER AND WILL IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFY VETERANS UPON JAIL BOOKING THROUGH USE OF THE VETERANS RE-ENTRY SEARCH SERVICES SYSTEM TO ENSURE A SWIFT ENTRY INTO THE 18-MONTH PROGRAM. VETERANS IN THIS PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT THROUGH A CLINICAL PROVIDER AND WILL BE CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM POST-GRADUATION. THIS TREATMENT COURT WILL FILL EXISTING GAPS IN HARALSON AND POLK COUNTIES, WHICH DO NOT HAVE TREATMENT COURTS, AND WILL ALLOW VETERANS FROM CARROLL AND HEARD COUNTIES, CURRENTLY PART OF THE COWETA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, TO CONTINUE VETERANS COURT PARTICIPATION ONCE THE CIRCUIT SPLITS IN JANUARY 2025. FUNDING IS REQUESTED UNDER FUNDING CATEGORY 1 (PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION).

CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE IS TO DIVERT INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS OR CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INTO COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND TREATMENT THROUGH JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CREATING AND EXPANDING EARLY DIVERSION AND PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN THE MUNICIPAL COURTS, STATE COURT, AND SUPERIOR COURT; IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED RISK AND NEED SCREENING AND ASSESSMENTS TOOLS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS; CONVENING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY DIVERSION TEAM TO IDENTIFY AND REFER HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE CASE REVIEWS MONTHLY; AND IMPLEMENTING STRENGTHS-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT AND WRAP-AROUND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES TO ENROLLED PARTICIPANTS. THERE ARE NO PLANNED CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES FOR THE RECOMMENDED AWARD.

DEVELOP EXPANSION OF THE CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM - CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES PROGRAM IS AN INTERAGENCY COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WORK TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH EPIDEMIC IN CARROLL COUNTY. IT CURRENTLY WORKS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDES A NAMI SUPPORT GROUP, PROVIDES CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORKS WITH CARROLL COUNTY PROBATE COURT TO PROVIDE A SMALL PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR EARLY DIVERSION (PRIOR TO ARREST OR BOOKING) FOR SMI/COD CLIENTS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER ARRESTS IN CARROLL COUNTY. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SMI/COD ADULTS RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN CARROLL COUNTY. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO WORK TO INCREASE COMMUNITY EDUCATION OF MENTAL HEALTH/MENTAL ILLNESS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH FREE TRAININGS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS.

CARROLL COUNTY JUVENILE COURT IS PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON MENTAL HEALTH. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE BEST APPROACH TO HELPING A CHILD IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CHILDS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND/OR A COMPETENCY EVALUATION WILL ALLOW THE COURT TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR THAT CHILD. ONCE THE EVALUATION IS COMPLETE THE COURT CAN KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE BEST TREATMENT SHOULD BE. THE COURT HAS EXPANDED THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS TO THE CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES (CHINS) PROGRAM. PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE ONLY BEING USED FOR DELINQUENT CASES. EXPANDING THE USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS TO CHINS CASES AS WELL AS THE INCREASE IN DELINQUENT CASES NEEDING A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION HAS ADDED AN INCREASED BURDEN TO JUVENILE COURTS BUDGET. ONCE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND /OR COMPETENCY EVALUATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES IS OFTEN HINDERED BY THE PARENTS ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE: IF THE CHILDS INSURANCE HAS LAPSED OR SERVICES ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR INSURANCE WILL ONLY ALLOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE PROVIDER FEELS MORE TIME IS NEEDED. THE COURT HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN CASES WHERE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND/OR COMPETENCY EVALUATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BUT FUNDING FOR THE EVALUATIONS IS LIMITED. AFTER THE EVALUATION THE COST OF COUNSELING PROHIBITS SOME FAMILIES FROM RECEIVING THE SERVICES NEEDED. FUNDING WOULD BE USED TO PAY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND/OR COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS AND COUNSELING SERVICES. IN MANY WAYS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND ASSESSMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO MEDICAL TESTS. IF A PATIENT HAS PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS, A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER MAY ORDER TESTS TO UNDERSTAND WHATS CAUSING THOSE SYMPTOMS. PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE TO ARRIVE AT A DIAGNOSIS AND GUIDE TREATMENT. A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION CONSISTS OF TESTING AND ASSESSMENTS. IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF HOW PSYCHOLOGISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND A PERSON AND THEIR BEHAVIOR. IT ENCOMPASSES A WHOLE BODY OF RESEARCH-BACKED TESTS AND PROCEDURES OF ASSESSING A SPECIFIC ASPECT OF A PERSONS PSYCHOLOGICAL MAKEUP. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE EVALUATIONS ENABLE THE COURT TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO THE CHILD, ELIMINATING A TRIAL AND ERROR APPROACH TO FINDING THE CORRECT RESOURCES. COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS WILL BE PERFORMED WHEN THE COURT FEELS THE CHILD MAY NOT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE COURT PROCEEDINGS. IF THE CHILD IS DETERMINED TO BE INCOMPETENT A CASE MANAGER WILL BE ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH THE CHILD AND FAMILY TO PROVIDE SERVICES. THE CHINS PROGRAM SEEKS TO TRANSFORM THE PROCESS OF USING TRADITIONAL JUVENILE COURT METHODS FOR JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS AND LOW LEVEL DELINQUENT OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND FAMILY OF ORIGIN PROBLEMS. CHINS PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATIONAL AND PREVENTION SERVICES TO THE CHILD AND FAMILY. CHINS ALSO PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLANNING FOR THE CHILD AS WEEKLY COLLABORATIVE MEETINGS ALLOW ALL ASPECTS OF A JUVENILES CASE TO BE EXAMINED. EDUCATION, PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT ALLOW YOUTH TO LEARN COPING SKILLS AND EXPLORE FAMILY DYNAMICS THAT DECREASE A CHILDS CHANCE OF REOFFENDING AND ASSIST THEM IN BEING PRO-SOCIAL AND LIVING A PRODUCTIVE CRIME FREE LIFE STYLE. INCLUDING A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AS PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR SOME CASES WILL ENABLE THE CHINS PROGRAM TO PINPOINT THE CORRECT TREATMENT PLAN. ALL OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED TO THE CHILD AND FAMILIES ARE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. THE COUNTY IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE WILLOWBROOKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS AND PROVIDING THE COUNSELING SERVICES.

DEVELOP EXPANSION OF THE CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM - CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES PROGRAM IS AN INTERAGENCY COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WORK TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH EPIDEMIC IN CARROLL COUNTY. IT CURRENTLY WORKS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDES A NAMI SUPPORT GROUP, PROVIDES CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORKS WITH CARROLL COUNTY PROBATE COURT TO PROVIDE A SMALL PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR EARLY DIVERSION (PRIOR TO ARREST OR BOOKING) FOR SMI/COD CLIENTS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER ARRESTS IN CARROLL COUNTY. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SMI/COD ADULTS RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN CARROLL COUNTY. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO WORK TO INCREASE COMMUNITY EDUCATION OF MENTAL HEALTH/MENTAL ILLNESS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH FREE TRAININGS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS.

DEVELOP EXPANSION OF THE CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM - CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES PROGRAM IS AN INTERAGENCY COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WORK TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH EPIDEMIC IN CARROLL COUNTY. IT CURRENTLY WORKS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDES A NAMI SUPPORT GROUP, PROVIDES CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORKS WITH CARROLL COUNTY PROBATE COURT TO PROVIDE A SMALL PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR EARLY DIVERSION (PRIOR TO ARREST OR BOOKING) FOR SMI/COD CLIENTS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER ARRESTS IN CARROLL COUNTY. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SMI/COD ADULTS RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN CARROLL COUNTY. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO WORK TO INCREASE COMMUNITY EDUCATION OF MENTAL HEALTH/MENTAL ILLNESS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH FREE TRAININGS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS.

DEVELOP EXPANSION OF THE CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES EARLY DIVERSION PROGRAM - CARROLL COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES PROGRAM IS AN INTERAGENCY COLLABORATIVE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WORK TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH EPIDEMIC IN CARROLL COUNTY. IT CURRENTLY WORKS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDES A NAMI SUPPORT GROUP, PROVIDES CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WORKS WITH CARROLL COUNTY PROBATE COURT TO PROVIDE A SMALL PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR EARLY DIVERSION (PRIOR TO ARREST OR BOOKING) FOR SMI/COD CLIENTS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER ARRESTS IN CARROLL COUNTY. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SMI/COD ADULTS RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN CARROLL COUNTY. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO WORK TO INCREASE COMMUNITY EDUCATION OF MENTAL HEALTH/MENTAL ILLNESS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH FREE TRAININGS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS.

CARROLL COUNTY GEORGIA WILL USE JAG FUNDS TO HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS FOR CHILDREN INVOLVED WITH JUVENILE COURT AND COUNSELING SERVICES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE EVALUATION IN ORDER TO PREVENT FURTHER PENETRATION INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM ALLOWS STATES AND UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING TRIBES, TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO PREVENT AND CONTROL CRIME BASED ON THEIR OWN STATE AND LOCAL NEEDS AND CONDITIONS. GRANT FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, CONTRACTUAL SUPPORT, AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INCLUDING FOR ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS: 1) LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS; 2) PROSECUTION AND COURT PROGRAMS; 3) PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS; 4) CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS; 5) DRUG TREATMENT AND ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS; 6) PLANNING, EVALUATION, AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS; AND 7) CRIME VICTIM AND WITNESS PROGRAMS (OTHER THAN COMPENSATION) AND 8) MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND RELATED LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS. THIS JAG AWARD WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT CRIMINAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES THAT FALL UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE ALLOWABLE PROGRAM AREAS ABOVE. FUNDED PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES MAY INCLUDE MULTIJURISDICTIONAL DRUG AND GANG TASK FORCES, CRIME PREVENTION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS, COURTS, CORRECTIONS, TREATMENT, JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING INITIATIVES, OR OTHER PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING CRIME AND/OR ENHANCING PUBLIC/OFFICER SAFETY. NCA/NCF