HomeMy WebLinkAboutFamily Drug Court Funding MemoDepartment of Administrative Services
Dave Kanner, County Administrator
1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960
(5411 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202
www.co.deschutes.or.us
October 28, 2010
TO: Board of Commissioners
FROM: Dave Kanner, county administrator
Ken Hales, community justice director
Scott Johnson, health services director
RE: Family Drug Court
During Budget Committee deliberations last spring, the County received a request from
the Circuit Court Administrator for up to $32,208 in County funds to support the Family
Drug Court program. The Budget Committee did not act on this request and deferred to
the Board, which expressed a desire to have all of the public safety stakeholders come
together to discuss it. That discussion took place at the October 4`" LPSCC meeting, at
which the Court Administrator presented a request for $10,000 to restore to full-time a
coordinator position that has been reduced to .8 FTE.
The November 3rd work session presents an opportunity for continued deliberation on this
request. While we have absolutely no doubt that the program has been successful, staff
has several concerns about it, which, as this memo is being written, we have not been
able to fully address. These include the following:
1. The FDC program is still running and is currently serving 15-25 people and their
families. What exactly has the impact been in terms of service delivery to FDC clients as
a result of the FTE reduction? How would these impacts be mitigated by the County
money?
2. All specialty courts are in danger of being eliminated due to state budget cuts. How
much is the County prepared to commit to this one program? Is FDC a higher priority for
the County than, say, Mental Health Court? What are the limits of our financial
commitment to these specialty courts, assuming we want to make one? (And what
commitment are the cities willing to make?). If these funds are invested this year as a
one-time bridge, what actions can the Court take to reduce coordination costs in FY 12?
3. Are there things the Court is currently doing that could be done (and perhaps done
more effectively and efficiently) by the County that would free up resources for the Court
to put toward FDC?
We have invited the court administrator to attend the November 3rd work session.
Hopefully, these and other Board concerns can be addressed before any decision is made.
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