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Innovative Initiatives of Treatment Accountability for Safer Community Programs

NCJ Number
207658
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 92-95
Author(s)
Karen V. Chapple; Mary Shilton
Date Published
October 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the implementation of TASC (Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities) programs in North Carolina; Birmingham, AL; Arkansas; and Ohio.
Abstract
During the past 30 years, criminal justice agencies have developed partnerships with TASC programs to reduce the impact of illegal drug and related crime on communities. TASC programs target problems in the areas of substance abuse, family support, female offender reentry, and mental health services. TASC in North Carolina has partnered with the Division of Community Corrections to establish a systemic model for balancing the control and treatment of offenders. The statewide TASC network provides services in all 100 counties. The Birmingham TASC program teaches offenders who are fathers holistic parenting; empowers them to assume moral, spiritual, psychological, and financial responsibility for their children; and turns dysfunctional fathers into functioning fathers. The Arizona TASC program is an innovation in working collaboratively with the criminal justice and court systems. It has developed and operated behavioral health programs that include treatment services for substance abuse, mental health, driving under the influence, domestic violence, behavioral disorders, community reintegration, and decisionmaking and problem-solving difficulties. Ohio's TASC programs are nonprofit agencies that are linked to a statewide substance abuse and mental health services system that serves adult and juveniles. They work closely with drug courts and community corrections programs. Throughout the country, TASC projects are incorporating problem-solving and evidence-based practices to build links between justice agencies and health, education, employment, and social services resources. 2 notes