AWARD RECIPIENT:

Tarrant County
Fort Worth, TX

AWARD AMOUNT:

$299,927*

PURPOSE: Tarrant County Juvenile Services (TCJS) will use grant funds to enhance its existing juvenile drug court program by expanding the availability of resources, participating in training programs, and conducting program evaluations. During the 2-year grant period, the drug court will serve 35 to 50 nonviolent, substance-abusing juveniles and 80 to 120 family members in a 6 to 12-month deferred prosecution program. TCJS will expand the drug court by adding an intensive treatment track that includes a Multi-systemic Therapy (MST) component. TCJS team members will receive training that addresses a number of juvenile drug court issues including best practices in assessing youth chemical dependency, current trends in drug use, age-appropriate self-help groups, effective drug testing, and signs and symptoms of drug use. The drug court will conduct process and outcome evaluations to gauge program effectiveness and ensure the program is meeting its goals and objectives. The evaluations will primarily focus on the effectiveness of the MST component of the intensive treatment track. TCJS will coordinate with organizations such as the Research Division of Mental Health of Tarrant County and the Office of the Criminal District Attorney of Tarrant County.

LOCAL CONTACT:

Robert Woods
Tarrant County Juvenile Services
2701 Kimbo Road
Fort Worth, TX 76111
817/838-4600

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS CONTACT:

Linda Mansour
202/616-3534

* This is a tentative award amount pending final budget review.