From The Field M A Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 4 Reclaiming Futures, Rebuilding Lives ALLEN SMART Vice President of Programs, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust JEHAN BENTON-CLARK Senior Program Officer, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust O ver nearly seven decades of investment in North only 10 percent of youth with substance abuse disorders Carolina communities, the Kate B. Reynolds receive treatment. Meanwhile, two-thirds of juvenile detention Charitable Trust has learned that although direct ser- facilities house youth awaiting mental health treatment. In vice grantmaking can yield immediate results, it often cannot North Carolina, an average of 23 percent of youth screened address the underlying causes of poverty or make a lasting upon entering the juvenile justice system display moderate to impact. To better address these challenges, the Trust has high need for substance abuse treatment. shifted the focus of much of its grantmaking to efforts Reclaiming Futures recognizes that these young people are in designed to change the systems serving these populations. The need of treatment and support, which in turn reduce recidi- Trust also understands that the impact of its investments vism, conserve resources, and build safer communities. The increases exponentially when public and private funders and initiative also recognizes that in many cases the systems serving stakeholders—in partnership with the communities they youth lack coordination, hindering attempts to put young peo- serve—address challenges at the source. In many cases this ple on the path to a more responsible and constructive future. means finding a systems-based solution. One example of this approach is the Trust’s investment in Reclaiming Futures, an THE RECLAIMING FUTURES MODEL initiative to help youth in the juvenile justice system with sub- Reclaiming Futures was originally piloted by the Robert stance abuse and mental health challenges access much-needed Wood Johnson Foundation in 2001 in 10 communities across support and resources. the United States. It is designed to improve treatment services for mental health and substance abuse, provide a comprehen- THE CHALLENGE sive system of care that coordinates available services, and Every year, an estimated two million children and teens are involve the community in creating new opportunities for arrested; a majority of these young people suffer from sub- youth when reintroduced to the community. stance abuse, mental health issues, or both. According to a Developing local leadership is a cornerstone of this work. At 2010 report by The National Center on Addiction and each Reclaiming Futures site, a team of local leaders supports Substance Abuse at Columbia University, four out of five the initiative. Each team includes five leaders—judges, juvenile children and teens in the juvenile justice system are under the justice staff, adolescent substance abuse treatment providers, influence of alcohol or drugs while committing crimes, but community members, and a project director who keeps the model on track. All five work as peers and participate in the Reclaiming Futures Fellowship, a national leadership program. Reclaiming Futures follows youth through the juvenile SIX STEPS OF THE justice system and coordinates necessary services. The model is RECLAIMING FUTURES MODEL broken into six steps, with process and outcome measures 1) Initial Screening attached to each step to gauge progress. 2) Initial Assessment INVESTING IN PHASES 3) Service Coordination The Trust first learned about Reclaiming Futures in 2007. In 4) Initiation 2008 the initiative was introduced in North Carolina at six 5) Engagement sites. The Trust initially invested $45,000 per year per site, but has since discovered that an annual commitment of up to 6) Transition $70,000 is needed at new sites to launch the program. To provide oversight, the Trust established a State For more information, visit www.reclaimingfutures.org. Champions advisory group. State Champions include the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services; Division of Medical Assistance; Administrative Office of the Courts; Wake Forest School of TIMELINE: Medicine; University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and RECLAIMING FUTURES NORTH CAROLINA the Reclaiming Futures National Program Office, as well as 2007: The Trust investigates Reclaiming Futures and other funding partners. brings it to North Carolina. The idea of a state office to better support and coordinate the needs of each site emerged from the State Champions in 2008: State Champions group forms. 2010. In 2011 North Carolina established the nation’s first 2008: Six sites (four single-county, two multi-county) statewide Reclaiming Futures office, which is housed in the receive two-year grants. North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Division of 2008: The Trust contracts with Wake Forest University Juvenile Justice. It is supported by a public-private partner- to evaluate investments. ship of the Department of Public Safety, Governor’s Crime 2010: The Trust funds two-year extensions for each site. Commission, and the Trust. The state office supports the implementation and diffusion 2011: The first-ever statewide Reclaiming Futures office of Reclaiming Futures throughout North Carolina by provid- is established. ing training, coaching, and technical assistance; generating 2012: Six new sites identified and funded (four by The interest in additional communities; assisting funders in select- Duke Endowment, two by the Trust). ing communities for investment; working toward a common 2013: Reclaiming Futures is launched at new sites. data system to track performance; and identifying challenges - State office provides guidance, coaching, and and opportunities for policy change. new data system. BENEFITS OF EVALUATION - Two additional sites commit to Reclaiming Futures model. The Trust contracted with Doug Easterling and Elizabeth 2014: Reclaiming Futures operating in 29 counties. Mayfield Arnold at Wake Forest University to evaluate the initiative’s progress. Among the key findings of the first- round evaluation: MOVING FORWARD: IDENTIFYING AND • The first six Reclaiming Futures sites in North Carolina ADDRESSING CHALLENGES showed progress in improving the process through which In addition to the evaluation underway, the Trust’s ongoing youth in the juvenile justice system are screened, assessed, experience with Reclaiming Futures has identified areas for and referred to substance abuse services. improvement in the North Carolina systems serving youth. • The earliest improvements involved more consistent and The lack of consistent data on youth entering the system rigorous screening. hinders meaningful evaluation or tracking of Reclaiming Futures’ impact regarding recidivism and other metrics. • All sites have built stronger links between court services Addressing the shortage of information will become a focus for and treatment providers, increasing rates of assessment, and the Trust’s future investments. moving youth into and through treatment. The Trust’s investments in Reclaiming Futures are ongoing, but by bringing together public and private funders, key stake- Critically important among the evaluators’ findings is the holders, state agencies, and community leaders, the Trust has institutionalization of the Global Appraisal of Individual begun to create a sustainable and comprehensive system of care Needs–Short Screener (GAIN-SS). The five-minute screening for youth in North Carolina’s juvenile justice system. In the tool quickly and accurately identifies youth with substance future, the Trust hopes to see improvements in treatment abuse and/or mental health challenges, and those who might services for children and teens suffering from mental health benefit from further assessment or referral. GAIN-SS can also issues and substance abuse. be used to measure behavioral health over time. Thanks to The Trust recognizes that it cannot make meaningful and Reclaiming Futures, the screening has been institutionalized positive change in the lives of North Carolina’s neediest within North Carolina’s juvenile courts system. families and individuals without first challenging the state’s The evaluation has had additional benefits. During the established systems of service and care for these populations. evaluation, Dr. Easterling distilled 12 targets, including coor- By bringing Reclaiming Futures to North Carolina, and dination, community engagement, and quality management, bolstering the initiative by institutionalizing it at the state level, to determine Reclaiming Futures’ impact on systems change. the Trust hopes to transform the way North Carolina engages The national Reclaiming Futures office at Portland State its youth and communities and find solutions to the state’s University has used the targets to further refine the most pressing problems. Reclaiming Futures model. The evaluation also reinforces a central tenet of the model— without cooperative local leadership, ongoing success at each site is uncertain. Judges, probation officers, substance abuse Views from the Field is offered by GIH as a forum treatment professionals, and community members must work for health grantmakers to share insights and experiences. If you are together to help young people in the justice system. interested in participating, please contact Osula Rushing at 202.452.8331 or orushing@gih.org.