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NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES MULTI-PURPOSE OUTREACH PROGRAM

NCJ Number
66802
Author(s)
M KOTLER; J WILLIAMS
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
BACKGROUND, DEVELOPMENT, PROCEDURES, AND RESULTS OF NEW YORK STATE'S MULTI-PURPOSE OUTREACH PROGRAM (MOU), WHICH SCREENS AND REFERS DRUG ABUSERS TO TREATMENT PROGRAMS, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
MOU IS OPERATED BY THE NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT AND HAS EIGHT OPERATING UNITS. WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MOU CONSIDERS THE ABUSER'S DRUG ABUSE AND CRIMINAL HISTORY, PRIOR TREATMENT EXPERIENCE, PSYCHOSOCIAL HISTORY, AND MOTIVATION FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. IT THEN MAKES REFERRALS WITHOUT BIAS FOR ANY TYPE OF PROGRAM. BEGUN IN 1973, MOU IS DESIGNED TO HELP NEW YORK DRUG ABUSERS CONVCTED BY THE COURTS, OR IN SOME CASES, REFERRED BY WELFARE AGENCIES. HOWEVER, SINCE 1976, MOU HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY FUNDING PROBLEMS, A MAJOR REDUCTION IN STATE-OPERATED TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND NEGATIVE ATTITUDES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS TOWARD DRUG TREATMENT. THUS, MOU MUST NOW WORK HARDER TO ESTABLISH ITS CREDIBILITY WITH BOTH THE COURTS AND DRUG ABUSERS. MOREOVER, MOU HAS HAD TO OVERCOME OPPOSITION SINCE THE BEGINNING FROM PROBATION OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT CENTERS. MOU GIVES CLIENT FEEDBACK TO THE COURTS, HAS PROVIDED EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY SERVICE OVER THE YEARS, EMPLOYS EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL STAFF, DOES NOT INTRUDE ON OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE STAFF, AND HAS A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES. IN RECOMMENDING TREATMENT, MOU SEEKS TO DIAGNOSE HOW WELL OFFENDERS CAN FUNCTION IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT AMOUNT OF STRUCTURE THEY REQUIRE; MOREOVER, CLIENT PREFERENCE IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. SINCE 1973, MOU STAFF HAVE INTERVIEWED OVER 50,000 CLIENTS AND REFERRED 60 PERCENT OF THEM. MOST OF THESE WERE REFERRED TO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS. SUGGESTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR COPYING MOU IN OTHER STATES. CHARTS AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)