Developing a Useful Policy and Procedures Manual March 20, 2015

Ryan H. PorterBehavioral Health and Quality Assurance Manager, ISC

Webinar Description

This webinar will provide participants with a useful outline of a policy and procedures manual that can guide their court’s day-to-day operations, maintain operational consistency with state Guidelines and Standards, foster use of best practices and provide a tool to orient new team members.

Learning Objectives:

This webinar will enable participants to:• define minimum policy and procedural

considerations to guide the operations of the individual problem-solving court

• organize current practice into a useful policy and procedure manual• identify gaps in current policy and

procedure and develop a plan for updating and revising their policies and procedures

Okay, um…how does it work?

.

What is a Policy and Procedure?

A Policy is a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocolA Procedure is a document written to support a policy directive. A Procedure is designed to describe Who, What, Where, When, and Why by means of establishing corporate accountability in support of the implementation of a "policy".Policy lays out what you want participants to do, procedure describe exactly how to do it

How to organize current practice into useful Manual

1. A clear Table of Contents with reference page #’s. a. Does it link to the page? b. Are the section titles clear? c. Does it reference the Appendix and Forms? d. Who is your audience? Team member, stakeholders, participants?

2. Chronological order of events, from arrest and admission to graduation and discharge or from theoretical to practical

e. Does your manual read from arrest/admission to graduation/discharge? How does it flow?

f. Does it begin with mission and philosophy of Drug Court, include 10 key Components?

g. Does it finish with application, procedures and protocol?

1. Mission Statement 2.Goals/Objectives 3.Policies and 4.Procedures

How to organize current practice into a useful Manual cont.

3. Keep it direct, simple and objective.a. Does it follow the Idaho Standards and Guidelines? NADCP

Standards? 10 Key Components? b. Is it clear and consistent? Or does it ramble and jump topics? c. Strive for clarity, conciseness and coherence

4. Continue to monitor, evaluate and update as new practices emerge and old practices become obsolete.

a. What is the frequency and structure for addressing the needs? b. Who is in charge of changes and how are they approved? c. How are changes communicated and implemented? d. Write, edit, re-write, edit, re-write (a living document)e. Make it look good. Appearance and presentation are important.

New Team Member Orientation

• Train and educate new members in an effort to promote regular review of the manual

• Helps clarify the unique role on the team for the new member.

• Allows new member to be consistent with existing practices

• Provides objective feedback from manual to practice

Drug Court Standard and Guideline

4.10 Each drug court shall have a written drug testing policy and protocol describing how the testing will be administered, standards for observation to ensure reliable specimen collection, how quickly results will be available to the team, the laboratory to be used, procedures for confirmation, and process for reporting and acting on results.

Drug Court Standard and Guideline

4.19 The drug court shall have a written policy and procedure for adhering to appropriate and legal confidentiality requirements and should provide all team members with an orientation regarding the confidentiality requirements of 42 USC 290dd-2, 42 CFR Part 2.

Drug Court Standard and Guideline

The standards and guidelines provide a basis for each drug court to establish written policies and procedures that reflect the standards and guidelines, the needs of participants, and the resources available in the community.Each district court shall establish written policies and procedures that describe how the drug court(s) will implement these statewide guidelines as well as any additional guidelines, policies, and procedures necessary to govern its operations.

Tips for a great looking manual

• Use high quality paper• Balance between text and visuals• Use photographs and illustrations effectively• Use bullet points to offset information from text• Provide an appealing cover• Include professional binding• Prepare a PDF version for electronic distribution

Examples: Table of ContentsI. Mission Statement II. The Ten Key Components III. Benefits and Services Offered IV. Drug Court Program Overview V. Drug Court Program Manual VI. Roles of Drug Court Team Members VII. Staffing and Docket Procedures VIII. Pre-Plea Diversion Track Eligibility and Admission IX. Post-Plea Diversion Track Eligibility and Admission X. Probation Track Eligibility and Admission XI. Re-Entry Track Eligibility and Admission XII. Ineligibility and Termination Procedures XIII. Drug Court Graduation Procedures

Example: Mission Statement

The mission of the Milwaukee County Drug Treatment Court is to enhance public safety through the reduction of recidivism by coordinating effective and accountable substance abuse treatment and supportive services for offenders with substance abuse problems.

Example: Program OverviewThe Boone County Drug Court Program is a court-supervised, comprehensive treatmentprogram which accepts participants through various entry tracks. It includes first timenon-violent offenders; probationers; and offenders who are returning to the communityfrom the Department of Corrections. All participants have been determined to requiresubstance abuse treatment and are felony offenders. The Drug Court may be a voluntaryprogram or ordered as a condition of probation and parole. Participation includes regularcourt appearances before the Drug Court Judge. Treatment, which includes drug testing,individual counseling and group counseling, is provided through Reality House for menand McCambridge Center for women. The defendant is also expected to obtain andmaintain employment or involvement in vocational or educational programs and maintainregular attendance at 12-step meetings (Narcotics Anonymous or AlcoholicsAnonymous). The length of the Drug Court Program is determined by eachparticipant’s progress and will be a minimum of one year and no longer than two years.

Example: Policy and ProcedurePOLICY:It is the policy of the ACJDC that all juvenile participants shall be required to attend weekly Status Hearings in front of the ACJDC Judge. The attendance at these hearings is subject to change based on the juvenile’s phase status and ACJDC Team decision.

PROCEDURE:In court, the ACJDC-PSC Judge shall review with the juvenile each task successfully completed and those requiring more work to complete. If incentives for compliance or sanctions for non-compliance are called for, the consequence is immediate, appropriate and imposed on an individual basis. The juvenile shall be advised of the next Court appearance date and given a list of tasks and responsibilities for the coming week, if part of the individual sanctions. Families are asked to report on the juvenile’s progress with encouragement to report strengths as well as weakness.Participants required at the weekly Status Hearings with the juvenile and the Judge shall be the Prosecuting Attorney, Public Defender, Probation Officer, Drug Court Coordinator and Treatment Counselor(s). Other ADJCS or community liaison representatives involved with the juvenile may attend but are not required to do so.To enhance parental attendance, the weekly Status Hearing shall be held at 3:30 pm on Tuesdays.

Referenceshttp://county.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cntyCourts/documents/Milwaukee_County_Drug_Treatment_Court_Policy___ProceduresRev.pdf

• Milwaukee County Drug Court

http://www.stlcitycircuitcourt.com/DrugCourt/Policy%20and%20Procedure%20Manual.pdf

• St. Louis Drug Courts Policy Manual

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/circuitcourt/Resources/Files/drugcourt/Adult_Drugcourt_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf

• Montgomery County, Maryland Adult Drug Court

http://www.courts.mo.gov/hosted/circuit13/documents/ASC_DCPoliciesAndProceduresManual.pdf

• Adult Drug Court Missouri

Thank You

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