Eligibility

Suitability

To be considered as a candidate for the Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program, referrals can be made to the Court by any court officers/parties including the Judge/Referee, prosecutor, public defender, probation officers or CASA after an adjudication occurs. The Referral process shall be made in the following manner:

A referral will be made by contacting the Juvenile Drug Court Coordinator who then shall assist in the initial screening process by probation officer/juvenile drug court case-manager.
Potential candidates will be assigned to the probation officer/drug court case-manager for completion of the predispositional report and summaries to the Court. Initial screening shall include verification of the candidate against the eligibility standards previously determined.

(Factors to consider for participation shall include commitment of the youth and family to participate in the complete program, youth’s educational needs and programs, prior criminal history including any offenses that would exclude the youth from the program, history of substance abuse, method of use and impact on the defendants life. Most significantly, the officer shall also evaluate the youth’s motivation to effect change in their lives and must acknowledge their substance use and their need for treatment. )

Upon determination being made that a youth is a suitable candidate, a substance abuse assessment shall be completed regarding the youth and families participation in the Drug Court Program. This assessment process is to assist in determination of the youth and families treatment needs pertaining to the participation in the program.

(Factors to be considered for this assessment shall include the youth showing indications or symptoms of chemical dependency and addiction)

Upon completion of the aforementioned assessments, the youth shall then be referred to the Drug Court Committee for acceptance or

rejection from the program. (An rejection from the program shall be a team decision based on the evaluations performed. A

rejected candidate may still be eligible for Drug Court Program participation upon completion of any other programs deemed

appropriate by the Court at the dispositional hearing. A rejection from this program shall not determine an automatic commitment

to the Department of Corrections.)

Suitability-Screenings/Assessment

In accordance with the Indiana Judicial Center, Rules for Drug Courts, it shall be the policy of the Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program to schedule and conduct a screening of all candidates referred to the Juvenile Drug Court Program. In compliance with this rule, the following steps shall be taken:

Probation Officer/Case-manager Intake Screening/Assesment:

Upon receipt of a referral the Probation Officer/Case-manager assigned to the Juvenile Drug Court Program shall complete an assessment of the candidate that will include the following information:

(1) A statement of the presenting problem;

(2) Social, peer group, environmental setting in which the participant comes;

(3) Military service history;

(4) Financial status of the youth and parents;

(5) Alcohol and drug use of family members and attitudes toward such use;

(6) Occupational and educational status;

(7) Legal history and current legal status;

(8) History of medical problems;

(9) History of mental health problems; and

(10) Current thoughts of suicide or homicide.

Upon completion of said interview and screening, the participant shall then be referred to the Case-Manager from Howard Community Hospital for a Clinical Screening.

Clinical Screening/Assessment:

Upon receipt of a referral from the Juvenile Probation Officer/Case-manager assigned to the Juvenile Drug Court, an Access representative from Howard Community Hospital shall complete a clinical assessment of the candidate which shall include the following information:

(1) substances used in the past;

(2) substances used recently, especially those used in the last forty-eight (48) hours;

(3) substances of preferences;

(4) frequency of use or each substance;

(5) previous occurrences of overdose, withdrawl, or adverse drug reaction;

(6) year of first use of each substance;

(7) method of administration or each substance; and

(8) history of previous substance abuse treatment received;

(9) a completed SASSI evaluation (if possible).

The Juvenile Probation Officer/Case-manager shall complete a Predispositional Report including the information contained in the aforementioned section and the Clinical Screening Staff must use a clinical screening form that contains information described above. All screenings must further meet the following guidelines:

(1) The screening shall be conducted by a personal interview in the presence of

the youth and their parent/legal guardian/custodian.

(2) The screening staff shall document the interview by producing a narrative

summary of the staff members impressions and a recommendation concerning the participants appropriateness for the Juvenile Drug Court Program.

(3) The screening staff must place the narrative summary, or a copy of the

narrative summary in the candidates Court record.

In accordance with the Indiana Judicial Center, Rules for Drug Courts, it shall be the policy of the Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program to develop a Treatment Plan for all candidates referred and accepted into the Juvenile Drug Court Program. In compliance with this rule, the following steps shall be taken:

(1) The Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program shall obtain a copy of the mental health master treatment plan authored by the representative from Howard Community Hospital for each participant. Contained within said plan, an indication must be made that both the participant and his/her parents/guardians/custodians participated in the development of said plan.

(2) The Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program shall

provide the participant and his/her parents/guardians/custodians with a copy of the initial mental health treatment plan or verify that the initial treatment plan includes the participants and his/her parents/guardians/custodians written acknowledgement that the participant received a copy of the initial treatment plan.

(3) The Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program shall

periodically update the composite treatment plan in cooperation with Howard Community Hospital on a quarterly basis or sooner if needed. Written documentation shall be required quarterly for the record of the Court. The composite treatment plan shall include the combination of plans from the judicial, educational and treatment components of the Juvenile Drug Court Program.

(4) The initial mental health master treatment plan along with the composite treatment plan and subsequent updates shall be maintained with the

participants record with the Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Program

Prior to any implementation of the composite treatment plan, the Howard Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, Drug Court Team shall review the components of the plan including the judicial, educational and treatment plans as they relate to the Juvenile Drug Court Program. If a emergency exists, any plan may change by contacting the Juvenile Probation Officer/Case-Manager assigned to the case until such time as the necessary changes are reviewed by the Juvenile Drug Court Team.