PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
This program is for the provision of court-mandated outpatient drug and alcohol counseling and case management services for persons currently supervised through Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (DCCSCD) and specialty court programs. All clients referred through this program have been evaluated for mental health and substance-related issues and have been court-ordered to complete an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Referrals to this program will be made by DCCSCD upon court approval. In order to be eligible for reimbursement, all clients served through this program must be indigent and ineligible for third-party funding and authorized by DCCSCD prior to receiving services.
The primary goals of this program are to effectively address drug and alcohol problems and other criminogenic risk factors leading to a reduction in recidivism among the referred population. Because many referred clients may have co-occurring mental health issues, this program requires a minimum of five years’ experience treating co-occurring disorders within a judicially-involved population. Experience in addressing substance abuse issues, criminal thinking errors, and familiarity with the drug-court model are essential components of this program with adherence to an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral, manualized, substance abuse curriculum preferred. This program requires extensive collaboration, documentation, and communication between the contactor, DCCSCD, Community Supervision Officers (CSOs) and the Courts regarding attendance, treatment planning, progress reports, and aggregate data.
The contractor for this program must be able to provide the required outpatient treatment services with appropriately licensed counselors at their facility in accordance with applicable CJAD standards and state and federal privacy laws. Contractor must be able to enroll and qualify a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of referred individuals for IOP treatment through third-party funding sources. Contractor facilities must be accessible to public transportation in order to accommodate client indigence status. The contractor will be responsible for obtaining all necessary consents, releases and waivers to allow communication with DCCSCD and the courts. The contractor will also be responsible for all aspects of eligibility determination, enrollment, and billing through third parties. Only clients determined to be ineligible through alternative funding sources are eligible to be billed through this program. Under no circumstances shall contractor bill DCCSCD for any services provided to enrollees of any third party reimbursement entities.
Responsibilities of Parties:
In recognition of the public benefits to be derived from the implementation of the program the parties agree that their responsibilities shall be as follows:
- Dallas County CSCD Responsibilities:
- DCCSCD will furnish the CONTRACTOR with the supervising officer’s name, email, business address, and phone number for all cases.
- DCCSCD will furnish CONTRACTOR with copy of an evaluation and signed authorization to release information for all referred cases prior to client’s initial intake appointment through CONTRACTOR.
- DCCSCD will furnish CONTRACTOR with copy of the client’s Conditions of Probation for all referred cases prior to client’s initial intake appointment through CONTRACTOR.
- DCCSCD will furnish CONTRACTOR with authorization number for clients referred to this program upon confirmation of court order.
- DCCSCD will furnish CONTRACTOR with identifying information on all referred clients, including client name, ML number, and date of birth as well as court of jurisdiction having authority over the referred clien
2. CONTRACTOR Responsibilities:
- CONTRACTOR shall utilize an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral curriculum which addresses both substance abuse and criminal conduct/criminal thinking.
- CONTRACTOR will provide treatment services at a facility accessible to public transportation.
- CONTRACTOR will utilize the ATRS evaluation in conducting the intake assessment prior to the onset of treatment. Any deviations in diagnosis/recommendations from those which are indicated in the ATRS evaluation that are made by the treatment facility will be clinically justified in clinical documentation.
- CONTRACTOR will limit group counseling sessions to a minimum of three (3) participants and a maximum of sixteen (16) participants.
- At the onset of treatment, CONTRACTOR will make clear the limits of confidentiality in relation to ongoing communication with DCCSCD, the CSO, and the court. Documentation of informed consent will be signed by the participant. This informed consent will make clear the participant understanding of the treatment facility’s ongoing communication with CSCD regarding the participant’s progress in treatment, as well as any significant disclosures that must be made to CSCD or other authorities.
- CONTRACTOR will provide three (3) 2-hour IOP Group counseling sessions per week for a total of 18 sessions.
- In addition to group sessions, CONTRACTOR will provide one (1) one hour individual session per month OR one (1) one hour family session per month during the course of treatment. CONTRACTOR may provide any combination of individual of family counseling during the course of treatment; however, the total number of individual and family sessions may not exceed one (1) per month.
- CONTRACTOR will provide weekly written progress reports to client’s CSO. Evidence of substance use, current or ongoing criminal behavior, or violations of probation conditions will be disclosed to the CSO within one (1) business day. CSO’s will be notified within one (1) business day of a participant’s no show to treatment.
- CONTRACTOR will provide e-mail notifications of discharges from treatment (successful or unsuccessful) to CSOs within one (1) business day. A full discharge summary will be completed for successful and unsuccessful discharges and provided to CSO within 14 days of discharge.
- CONTRACTOR will respond to all CSCD/ATRS requests for any additional information within one (1) business day.
- CONTRACTOR must maintain group and individual counseling session logs with client signatures, including date of service, topic discussed, client participation, and counselor signature, for all billed services. CONTRACTOR must provide copies of all counseling service logs to CSCD upon request and maintain original logs in client files available for CSCD audit.
- CONTRACTOR must maintain client treatment files and make them available for audit by CSCD. Client treatment files should include group and individual counseling logs, progress notes, treatment plans signed by clients, client receipt of group rules, all consents, all waivers, all financial eligibility documents and any other documents signed by referred clients.
- CONTRACTOR must provide drug screens to clients in treatment on at least a monthly basis and communicate results to DCCSCD within one (1) business day of receiving results.
- CONTRACTOR must ensure counselors attend and participate in any court staffings or meetings at an hourly reimbursement rate.
- CONTRACTOR may opt to bill CSCD a one-time charge for an Intake Assessment in order to successfully integrate referred clients into outpatient treatment when determined indigent and not eligible for NTBHA funding.
- Fees and Rates :
The contractors will be required to show proof that clients served were not eligible for funding of treatment through private insurance or North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA) reimbursements prior to billing DCCSCD.
The reimbursement rate for these services will be based per hour (60 minutes) of direct client service. Please quote your cost in the following terms :
Rate per hour for group treatment : _____________________________________________________________.
Rate per hour for individual treatment (include any family sessions): _________________________________.
Rate per hour for court staffing attendance:_____________________________________________________.
Rate for one-time Intake Assessment upon admission to outpatient treatment: _______________________.
- Responses should include copies of CONTRACTOR’s :
- agency standard operating procedures.
- organizational chart for proposing agency.
- evidence of providing similar services for at least five (5) years.
- evidence of criminal background checks on all staff.
- group rules, including attendance policies.
- all waivers, releases, consents.
- all financial eligibility documents.
- all financial agreements signed by clients.
- any additional documents to be signed by clients.
- summary and description of curriculum and materials to be used.
- overview of treatment progression including phases and step-down criteria.
- proposed method(s) and reports for tracking clients and client data.
- certificate of occupancy.
- general and professional liability insurance coverage.