Drug Courts

The Mentor Court Program remained highly active this reporting period.
Onsite visits

To fund speakers to present at the Louisiana conference as part of the Adult Treatment Court Initiative (ATCTI).

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) have a long tradition of service in the U.S. military. AIAN veterans are experiencing the negative outcomes of their military service in the form of high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicide, "functional disabilities," housing instability, and low employment rates, compared to other veterans. Thus, "access to justice" for AIAN veterans then can be particularly complex.

Outgoing State Drug Court Coordinator, Jeff Kushner, contacted Wellness Court Specialist Kristina Pacheco in late 2023 giving notice of his departure in 2024 and a request to partner with the incoming State Coordinator, Jake Lapke, for the 2024 Montana Treatment Court Conference on September 9-11, 2024 in Helena, Montana. Planning continued with Mr. Lapke and Ms. Pacheco and 2 TLPI, Montana-specific consultants; plus 1 additional TLPI consultant presented 4 Tribal sessions:
1. Culture in the Healing to Wellness Court; Kristina Pacheco, Sean Bear, Durand Bear Medicine

Judge Diane Cabrera requested TTA for the Lower Elwha S'klallam Tribe (FY20 CTAS - Purpose Area 3 grantee) in February 2024. Wellness Court Specialist Kristina Pacheco set up an initial meeting on March 11, 2024, which resulted in a request for onsite TTA for training of new team members and THWC coordinator, particularly on the Tribal Key Components, team building, culture and language in court proceedings, and a new approach in blending with their Family Healing to Wellness Court.

TLPI has been selected to self-certify Conference Request forms but required to submit a form per the formal process for the Rise25 conference. The form was submitted December 2024 and is still pending at the end of the reporting period. The conference dates are May 28-31, 2025.

TLPI has been selected to self-certify Conference Request forms but required to submit a form using the formal submission process for the 2025 American Indian Justice Conference. The form was submitted December 2024 and is pending at the end of this reporting period. The conference dates are May 13-15, 2025.

The Nevada SAA expressed interest in court related work, so we connected them to NCJFCJ via email.

Quinault Chief Judge Leona Colegrove submitted a General Inquiry Request for vicarious trauma training for her Healing to Wellness court staff. Chief Judge Colegrove specifically requested a training that was more comprehensive than a general "what is vicarious trauma" training. The general plan was to include how vicarious trauma shows up, what court staff can do to alleviate, how staff can support each other, how management/leadership can mitigate the effect on staff, etc.

TLPI's Civicore database continues to be utilized to track grantee outreach, TA requests and work, and training events. Wellness Court Specialists ensure that all contacts are recorded and Wellness Court Specialists Angie Juárez-Monger ensures complete date entry and reporting. This reporting period a new TA Workplan template began to be utilized and grantee TA workplans will be submitted to BJA next reporting period.