Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Franklin County Municipal Court Administrative and Presiding Judge to enter into a not for profit service contract with Alvis Inc., a not for profit agency, and authorizes the expenditure of up to $320,382.73 for peer support of specialized docket participants.
Alvis will provide certified Peer Support Specialists to serve probationers under the jurisdiction of the Franklin County Municipal Court, Specialized Dockets. Partnering with an external agency to provide Peer Support Specialists is both intentional and essential. Peer Supporters must remain independent from the Judge and court staff to uphold best practices, reduce liability for the Court, and protect the integrity of the relationship they build with participants. Peer Support is a distinct profession governed by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health that requires specialized training, certification, and lived experience. An appropriately licensed Clinical Supervisor will supervise the Peer Support Specialists.
Approximately 80% of Peer Support work happens outside the courthouse. A few examples: they transport individuals directly from jail to treatment, meet participants in community settings, and attend recovery meetings such as AA and NA alongside them. They often accompany participants to court hearings on other matters (domestic relations, or cases in other counties) as a supportive member. These activities are not only inappropriate for court staff to perform, but would also be unethical and contradictory to the roles of probation and docket personnel.
It is well established in the realm of modern mental health services that certified peer supporters who walk alongside individuals struggling with mental illness and/or addiction have a unique perspective and gift of shared experiences to offer them and support their path to recovery. According to AllRise, the national authority on best practices in treatment courts, “Research has associate...
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