Juvenile Justice Fund

2007 Project Ready, Set, Go! site visit by the Department of Health and Human Services
(from L to R): Tonnisha LaSalle, DeAnne Hayes, Cheron Crouch - Program Manager,
Stephanie Williams, Theresa Lemus - HHS Performance Management Liaison,
Kim Shellman-Borna, Wanda Scott, Alison Wong, Rodney Wilson, Heidi Reese-Anderson

Ready, Set, Go! is an extension project of the Fulton County Family Drug Court Program whose primary goal is to increase permanency outcomes for children. Ready, Set, Go focuses on identified transition and aftercare services to reunite and support children and families affected by substance abuse in Fulton County.

More than 6,000 reports of child abuse and neglect are reported to Fulton County Child Protective Services annually, and more than 3,500 of those reports become deprivation cases filed in the Fulton County Juvenile Court. At least seventy percent (70%) of these cases involve substance-abusing parents or custodians. The most commonly abused drug by these family caregivers is cocaine, followed by marijuana, and methamphetamine, which is currently deemed metro Atlanta’s fastest growing drug problem (U.S. DEA Georgia Web Page 2007).

Through the Fulton County Juvenile Court Family Drug Court program, Project Ready, Set, Go aims to address seven specific needs to increase the well-being of, and improve the permanency outcomes for, children affected by methamphetamine and other substance abuse in Fulton County. To achieve this goal, Ready, Set, Go provides transition and reunification readiness support services prior to treatment completion and post-treatment placement support services for children and parents in the form of Education/Literacy, Employment, Therapy (Individual and Family, Children and Parents with additional specialized Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Counseling), Housing, Drug Treatment, Regular Visitation, and Aftercare/Support Groups. Services are provided in three phases: (1) Transition (Pre-Graduation Readiness Services), (2) Aftercare (Post-Graduation Comprehensive Service Set), and (3) Connection Services and Support. Ready, Set, Go seeks to increase the graduation rate of the Family Drug Court program, minimize the relapse rate of parents, reduce reunification times for families, and increase interagency and systems collaboration in providing services to parents and their children in need.

Project Ready, Set, Go! Goals

Goal 1: Increase Family Drug Court Graduation Rates
Objective 1.1: Increase services and support during treatment (mental health, literacy, employment, and housing).

Goal 2: Improve Reunification Readiness Support and Transition Services for Parents
Objective 2.1: Provide focused and individualized supportive services to parents by administering the Family Readiness Needs Assessment to determine what services and support are needed.
Objective 2.2: Formulate a Readiness Transition Plan for parents.
Objective 2.3: As appropriate, increase visitation to prepare for reunification and to increase protective factors.

Goal 3: Improve Post Graduation Aftercare Services for Parents
Objective 3.1: Increase services and support following graduation including the provision of mental health services, education/literacy, employment, housing, and post substance abuse treatment support.
Objective 3.2: Utilize the Program Manager to coordinate and manage all post-graduation services and support for twelve months after graduation utilizing the Ready, Set, Go! Plan for each family.
Objective 3.3: The Peer Counseling Coordinator will develop an innovative Family Drug Court Peer Connection so that graduates will have sustained contact and support. The plan includes weekly Alumni meetings and/or activities and workshops and annual Retreats.

Goal 4: Improve Reunification Readiness Support and Transition Services for Children
Objective 4.1: The Program Manager and CASA will coordinate a Comprehensive Service Set for each child.
Objective 4.2: The Family Visitation Centers Coordinator will devise and implement an appropriate family visitation plan to include transportation for children, staff to supervise visits as required, observation reports, and court testimony as needed.

Goal 5: Improve Post Reunification Support Services for Children
Objective 5.1: The Program Manager and Youth Track Coordinator will develop and implement a Child Track Curriculum to coincide with parent aftercare treatment and services.
Objective 5.2: The CASA will make regular visits to the homes of reunified children and prepare ad submit monthly case reports on each child’s status, progress and needs.

Goal 6: Improve Community Knowledge
Objective 6.1: Train CASA workers on intervention and treatment needs for methamphetamine use and other substance abuse affected children and families.
Objective 6.2: Develop an Alumni Speakers Bureau to increase awareness and support for the Ready, Set, Go Project.
Objective 6.3: Conduct training on assessment, intervention and treatment of children and families and methamphetamine.

Goal 7: Increase Housing assistance for Family Drug Court Graduates
Objective 7.1: Conduct a housing feasibility to identify barriers and best practice for increasing housing assistance for Family Drug Court graduates.
Objective 7.2: Design a Family Drug Court Housing Assistance Plan.
Objective 7.3: Implement a Family Drug Court Housing Assistance Plan.

Project Ready, Set, Go! Partners include:

The Furniture Bank was founded in 1988 in response to the lack of furniture for families moving out of homeless shelters. Today the Furniture Bank provides essential household furniture to individuals and families moving out of homelessness, battling HIV/AIDS, and fleeing domestic violence. In partnership, the Furniture Bank will provide household furniture to participates of Project Ready, Set, Go! in order to help create and maintain a safe and well equipped home environment.

Member/Staff Login

Calendar Admin