BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The mission of the New York State Unified Court System (UCS) is to deliver equal justice under the law and to achieve the just, fair and timely resolution of all matters that come before our courts. In the service of our mission, the UCS is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, and to ensuring that all who enter or serve in our courts are treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism. We affirm our responsibility to promote a court system free from any and all forms of bias and discrimination and to promote a judiciary and workforce that reflect the rich diversity of New York State. More information about the UCS is available at https://www.nycourts.gov .

The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) Division of Professional and Court Services (DPCS) is soliciting proposals via this Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purpose of establishing a contract to provide a Treatment Facilitator to the Auburn City and Cayuga County Treatment Courts (ACCC).

UCS operates problem-solving courts, among them drug courts, which help judges and court staff respond to the needs of litigants and the community. Problem-solving courts look to the underlying issues that bring people into the court system, employ innovative approaches to address those issues, and seek to simplify the court process for litigants. A drug court involves an intervention by the court in cooperation with a team of specialists in social services, treatment, and criminal justice professionals in the local community. In return for a promise of a reduced sentence, appropriate non-violent addicted offenders are given the option of entering voluntarily into court-supervised treatment. The rules and conditions of participation are clearly stated in a contract entered into by the defendant, the defense attorney, the district attorney, and the court.

PROJECT INFORMATION

UCS is the recipient of an award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) for the purposes of funding the ACCC treatment courts in Cayuga County, New York, by providing treatment services to 200 court-involved participants. The maximum available funding over the Contract Term (September 30, 2022 – September 29, 2027) for the performance of Project Services (as set forth below) is $303,112.

AWARD

UCS intends to award one contract for a term beginning on or around November 15, 2022 and terminating on September 29, 2027 (“Contract Term”).

In the event of an extension of the grant term by SAMHSA, UCS reserves the option to extend the Contract Term at no additional cost for a maximum of twelve (12) additional months upon the same terms and conditions as of the expiration date of the Contract Term. Any such extension is subject to the approval of the Office of the State Comptroller and the Office of the Attorney General.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Proposals will be considered only from applicants who meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must possess at least two years of experience in performing services relevant to those described herein.
• Applicants must have the ability to provide Project Services (hereinafter defined) to clients within Cayuga County.

PROJECT SERVICES

UCS seeks proposals describing how the applicant will provide the services listed below (“Project Services”). The selected applicant shall be required to provide the Project Services, including the required staffing, listed below.

1. Retain a Treatment Facilitator to lead the treatment agency team, train agency staff, and design a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) program appropriate to the unique needs of the treatment court population. Provide administrative and clinical support to all agency treatment staff providing MI/CBT to participants, observe treatment agency staff at least once every six months, complete monitoring tools and develop policies and procedures to ensure fidelity to the Evidence Based Practices implemented.
2. A preference will be given to an organization that can refer internally for services such as:

• Conducting clinical assessments to evaluate psychosocial and other treatment needs of participants and formulate treatment plans, utilizing MI and implementing a CBT program utilizing group and individual sessions.
• Clinical staff utilizing journals, workbooks, daily logs, and other tools to address participants individual problem areas based on criminogenic risk and needs assessment.
• Providing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for alcohol and opioid use disorders, intensive outpatient treatment, relapse prevention, referrals to residential treatment programs, and other related programs.
• Addressing tobacco addiction and smoking cessation with participants.

1. Attend grant funded training in topics such as trauma-informed care, MI, CBT, implicit bias, best practices, and team building.
2. Attend treatment court staffings, court proceedings, and grant meetings
3. Assist with data collection and performance measures as required and input data into the data collection tools.
4. Staff will maintain project logs, reports and records in appropriate files and database(s) and provide continuous feedback on participants’ progress with team members.

Required Staffing:

1. Treatment Facilitator (Full Time). The Treatment Facilitator should have knowledge of chemical dependency and the treatment of chemical dependency. Knowledge of social work techniques and procedures. Must be well-organized, have excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to handle confidential matters. Ability to handle a crisis situation with individuals or groups of people. Must be familiar with the culture(s) and language(s) of the treatment court’s target population.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate Degree from an accredited college or university and one (1) year of full time experience in social case work with a recognized public or private agency adhering to accepted professional standards; or Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) and two (2) years of satisfactory full time experience in social casework with a recognized public or private agency adhering to accepted professional standards; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.