History

In 2000, a grassroots group comprised of state and local elected officials, judicial representatives, law enforcement personnel, mental health providers, and concerned citizens was established to collaboratively address Jefferson County’s alarming substance abuse rates. 

COCOA

The goal of the COCOA, “Continuity of Care of Adults,” was to develop a network of trusted relationships that would be necessary to stem the tide of our county’s increasing substance abuse rates.

COCOA’s groundwork led to the development of a continuity of care model specifically designed for implementation in Jefferson County that involves an impressive breadth of services offered by numerous participating organizations and a commitment from each organization to a common “road map” for the provision of evidence-based rehabilitative services. 

Commitments From Participating Agencies

The model requires the following commitments from each participating agency:

  1. To develop a shared understanding of each organization’s role and responsibility within the system
  2. To employ staff who understand their role as twofold, to serve their individual agency and the model as a whole
  3. To implement joint case management and a formal information sharing system
  4. To accept responsibility for shared outcomes and performance

Legislation

Following the development of the model, several passionate members of the COCOA group approached our legislators about our rates of substance abuse and funding for the model. In 2013, the Jefferson County Adult Treatment Train (JCATT) was included as a line item in the State Legislative budget. Jefferson County Community Corrections, the lead agency, received $500,000 a year for 2 years through the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

Model

The JCATT model includes primary services provided by the following agencies: Jefferson County Community Corrections, LifeSpring Health Systems, Centerstone and River Valley Resources. The model also includes essential support services provided by a network of community organizations providing transitional housing, support groups and barrier busting services, for example, child care and transportation assistance.

4 Years of Operation

In response to the program’s demonstrated performance, DMHA extended the JCATT funding for an additional two years in FY 2016 and FY 2017. The Treatment Train is currently in Year 4 of operations. Quarterly reports of the treatment train’s performance have been submitted to the Division of Mental Health and Addiction since the beginning. Each report outlines demonstrated outcomes, cost savings, and budget expenditures. 

Cost Savings & Services

Below is a summary of cost savings and services provided over the past three years from the final report for Year 3.

Demonstrated outcomes:

  1. 560 clients served by the Jefferson County Treatment Train. 
  2. 209 clients successfully completed the JCATT program. 
  3. 23% of recidivism among clients who successfully complete JCATT program: defined as being arrested for committing a new offense in Jefferson County within 3 years of completion of the program.