The 2010 Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative (VTCPI) Application

Application Deadline

The application process for the pilot Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative (VTCPI) will close Friday, August 6th, 2010. Those qualified courts who are not selected will be placed on a waitlist.


BJA, in partnership with the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) developed the content of each VTCPI program. In offering training and technical assistance through VTCPI, BJA demonstrates a commitment to working with local jurisdictions to prevent and control substance abuse and crime among the Veteran population. Representatives from each of these organizations will attend all VTCPI events.

 

Up to 10 jurisdictions will be served through VTCPI. Once capacity is reached, a waitlist will be initiated. Waitlisted teams will be accepted into the VTCPI as space becomes available and will automatically be added to the list for possible VTCPI iterations in CY2011.

 

Jurisdictions will be selected to participate in a facilitated 6 month planning process. Each jurisdiction will be required to complete pre-training worksheets, attend one, five-day VTCPI training program, maintain routine correspondence with program staff, and submit a Veterans Treatment Court implementation plan/draft policy and procedure manual. The 2010 Veterans Treatment Court Planning Initiative training will take place October 4-8 in Buffalo, NY.


VTCPI is intended for jurisdictions in the planning stages of developing a Veterans Treatment Court or in need of refinements or improvements to their existing court.

 

Things you must know before applying for the VTCPI training
(click on each topic header for information and instructions):

 

+ Submission of Application and Letter of Commitment

To apply, each interested jurisdiction must complete the on-line Application Form and submit a letter of commitment from the judge before the application deadline, Friday, August 6, 2010.

 

The Application Form can be downloaded and submitted on-line through the following link:

 

http://www.ndci.org/form/VTCPI.html

 

The Letter of Commitment from the participating judge must be submitted via facsimile to Brian Clubb, VTCPI Project Director at 703-575-9402. The letter must include the following:

  • A clearly stated commitment that approved team members will attend the required training in its entirety.
  • A list of agencies that will make up your team participating in the planning process.
  • An expression of the team's commitment to the planning and development of your Veterans Treatment Court.
  • The expected responsibilities and resources the participating team member agencies will dedicate during the Veterans Treatment Court planning process.

 

+ Team Member Roles and Responsibilities

To participate in VTCPI, each community must identify ten (10) individuals representing the following disciplines to form a Veterans Treatment Court Planning Team:

  • Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator
  • Judge
  • Prosecutor
  • Defense Counsel
  • Treatment Representative
  • Law Enforcement
  • Probation/Community Supervision Representative
  • Evaluator/Researcher
  • Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist
  • Mentor/Peer Coordinator

Upon acceptance into the training program, each participating team member must:

  • Attend the entire week long training.
  • Actively participate in all discussions and training breakouts.
  • Abide by the Federal Travel Regulations and DCPI policies.
  • Identify an appropriate substitute if the need arises.
  • Complete all homework assignments and respond to all requests for information.
  • Write and submit a Letter of Commitment.

In addition, the Veterans Treatment Court coordinator must serve as the team point of contact for all VTCPI coordination activities. This will include ensuring all relevant information is disseminated to team members in a timely fashion, responding to requests for information, and coordinating with all DCPI staff and faculty.

 

+ Required Commitment

BJA's investment in this training initiative is dependent upon active participation of all approved VTCPI team members. In addition to attending the entire week long training, team members will be expected to work with project staff throughout the planning process and complete a number of pre and post training activities while at their home location.

 

VTCPI participants will have regular contact with NDCI during the course of the 6-month planning process. Offsite trainings are expected to last 5 days and will start in October 2010. There will be one training at an offsite location where attendance of the entire ten (10) member Veterans Treatment Court Planning Team is essential and required. Jurisdictions that are unable or unwilling to fully participate in VTCPI may forfeit their participation in future BJA training events.

 

Upon acceptance into the training program each participating team member must write and submit a letter of commitment that includes the information listed below.

  • An expression of the agency's commitment to the planning and development of your Veterans Treatment Court.
  • The expected responsibilities and resources the participating team member's agency will dedicate during the Veterans Treatment Court planning process.
  • A clearly stated commitment that approved team member will attend the required training in its entirety.
  • Indication that the team member has read and will abide by the Federal Travel Regulations and DCPI policies.

 

+ Training Costs

Lodging costs associated with required team members' participation in VTCPI will be covered by BJA. Payment will occur through direct billing. All other costs are the responsibility of the team member as detailed in the Federal Travel Regulations and DCPI policies.

 

Travel Scholarships will be awarded!


NDCI has been provided funding to award Travel Scholarships to defray the cost of airfare, ground transportation, parking, mileage, lodging, and per diem for approved jurisdictions. The application request for Travel Scholarships will begin after jurisdictions are approved for inclusion in VTCPI. NDCI, in collaboration with BJA will review, approve and award scholarships.

 

+ Contact Information

For further information regarding the VTCPI Application Process and Training Program please contact the following:

 

National Drug Court Institute
4900 Seminary Road, Suite 320
Alexandria, VA 22311
703-575-9400
www.ndci.org

Brian Clubb, Project Director
703-575-9400 ext. 35
bclubb@ndci.org