City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: BRYAN L. PORTER, COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Grants to Expand Substance Use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants to expand substance use disorder treatment capacity in adult and family treatment drug courts.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Retroactively approve the submission of the grant application (applied on April 1, 2024) for up to $126,225; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has created a grant opportunity: Grants to Expand Substance use Disorder Treatment Capacity in Adult and Family Treatment Drug Courts for
FY 2025. The purpose of this grant is to expand substance use treatment and recovery support services in existing drug courts. SAMHSA recognizes the need for treatment instead of incarceration for individuals with substance use disorders. Through this grant, SAMHSA aims to improve abstinence from substance use, housing stability, employment status, social connectedness, health/behavioral/social consequences, and reduce criminal justice involvement. The HHS has set aside $24 million to fund this program with individual drug treatment programs being able to apply for up to $400,000 per year (for a minimum of 40 participants), to be spent beginning October 1, 2024. Recipients will have the option to receive funds for up to five years pending approval from SAMHSA and subject to annual re-application processes.
DISCUSSION: The grant seeks $126,225 for the first year to support the City’s commitment to the Alexandria Treatment Court (ATC). Grant funding is proposed to supplement the City’s
FY 2025 contribution to the ATC and intended to cover costs for items such as therapy/treatment supplies and graduation expenses, client incentives, medical services, and drug testing. These spending objectives will enable ATC to sustain the Treatment Court and provide recovery support services such as housing, medical services, and transportation to improve upon abstinence from substance use, housing stability, employment status, social connectedness, health/behavioral/social consequences, and reduce criminal justice involvement. Dedicated funds will also improve drug testing capacity, which is critical to a drug court’s success.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no required match from the City and, therefore, no additional fiscal impact from this grant. In future years, and pending approval in re-application processes, funding may be used for staffing and personnel costs.
STAFF:
Yon Lambert, Deputy City Manager
Aishah Dukes, Treatment Court Coordinator