WATCH This Space
An innovative programme designed to reduce repeat offending amongst young adult offenders has produced promising results.
The Whanganui-a-Tara Courts and Health (WATCH) project began in October 2006, started service delivery in early 2007 and has now been running for over a year in Wellington. The project was developed and guided by an inter-sectoral working group and was funded by Capital & Coast District Health Board (C&CDHB), Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development. Wesley Community Action was contracted as the host organisation for the service.
The service was designed with input from Judge John Walker and feedback from other judges, people with expertise in the criminal justice and health sectors and with input into the design from young people already in the criminal justice system and struggling with drug and alcohol issues. There was strong involvement and support from local Police, Courts, Probation and health providers with experience in this area.
This working group recognised that many young people in this situation wanted to get off the train but faced multiple barriers that often led to a sense of fatalism that their life was on a one way track to prison. Given this chance to have input, most expressed aspirations for a drug and alcohol free future, a good job, happy family life – but had almost given up thinking that these things could happen for them, says Justine Mecchia, Contracts & Relationship Manager Primary Care for Capital & Coast DHB.
A pilot was run for a year, contracting Wesley Community Action to provide the WATCH service. Wesley who specialise in strengths-based practice developed an innovative, strongly supportive but challenging approach with the participants and have received glowing reviews from all concerned.
An independent review of the WATCH service commissioned by ALAC and ACC confirmed the significant merits of this approach.
The DHB and the MSD have now adopted WATCH as an ongoing way to help address these important health and social needs.
It starts by identifying suitable candidates, young people who are due to appear in court and who have alcohol or drug issues. If they agree to take part and the judge agrees, a delay in their next court appearance is arranged so they can create a care plan with the WATCH team to try to get themselves back on track.
That means intensive and focussed interventions seeking to address the social and health issues especially drugs and alcohol which are contributing to the young person’s illegal or anti-social behaviour. The WATCH team reports back to the Court on a regular basis and presents a summary of progress when the time comes for the court to pass sentence for the original offence.
That’s not the end of the story. The WATCH team stay engaged with the young offender beyond sentencing, helping to bed in the gains they’ve made in terms of managing substance abuse.
It’s a real win-win situation for the young person and for society because it helps move people away from cycles of criminality, recidivism and drug/alcohol dependency. “We’re going to continue funding providers to deliver this WATCH service locally, and we’re hoping we can help spread the idea to other parts of the country,” Justine Mecchia said.
The evaluation findings were based on a range of data including review of relevant documentation, client file review and interviews with WATCH participants and their family/whānau, interviews with key stakeholders, and analysis of court data relating to number and types of charges faced.
Overall, evaluation results demonstrated that the WATCH project was meeting its objectives. The Project provided real assistance and support for a group of young adult offenders, typically regarded as hard to treat, to make tangible gains in their lives. The overriding testimony from the clients who participated in the evaluation was that, because of their involvement with the WATCH project link worker, their lives were better and they had developed beliefs, attitudes, understanding and skills which had been positively life-changing. Critically, these changes included positive shifts with respect to alcohol and other drug use and offending behaviour.
- The total number of charges in the 12-month period following entry to WATCH versus the 12-month period prior to entry to WATCH was reduced by 55 percent and there was a notable shift towards less serious offending
- Clients and whänau participating in the evaluation were overwhelmingly positive about the project and the gains made as a result of their involvement.
The evaluation pointed out that low numbers meant many of the gains that clients made could only be reported from a qualitative perspective. For many clients, one of the most valuable aspects of their involvement was having someone they could talk to and rely on. Some Māori clients gained support to connect more closely with their culture and valued working with someone Māori. Quotes from clients demonstrated the high engagement with the link worker employed for the project. Without the help from Rob, a link worker for the WATCH Project, and [the course] life would be completely different; [I] would have gone to prison. (WATCH project client, 2008)
- He did not care that I was in a gang.
- He was willing to work with me where I was at.
- When you are on charges it can be really intensive, there are a whole lot of things going on and you need help. Having someone like Rob is really helpful.
- He walks you through the things that might help.
At a function in Wellington to launch the evaluation District Court Judge John Walker praised the project as an idea whose time has come. He said he hoped the cross agency approach organisations involved included Police, Courts, Corrections,MSD, Capital & Coast DHB, health and social service providers – demonstrated by the project would become the norm in providing interventions services.
Julia Carr former Senior Portfolio Manager, Primary Care at C&CDHB who initiated the project, said WATCH was a small project but highly successful. It has the potential to inspire other people to try something different.
There are great opportunities to work at the interface between the health and justice sectors to engage young people whose needs require more than a series of assessments, referrals and courses, she says.
Many, trapped in low income families with stretched resources, struggling with drug and alcohol issues and recurrent court appearances, end up feeling disconnected from the health and social services that could help them. Fines, debt, relationship issues, employment difficulties, parenting responsibilities and expectations from the criminal justice system can all become overwhelming.
This project was inspired by C&C DHB commitment to youth health and to reducing disparities in health and social outcomes through innovation, intersectoral action and just a little courage. It builds on the strengths of communities, whānau/families and the young people themselves to address their alcohol and drug issues, and also rekindles a sense of hope to build their confidence to explore new options. It’s about health in the broadest sense of the word.
Article from alcohol.org.nz December 2008 Issue. Click HERE to see the whole December 2008 Issue.
January 13 2009 11:28 am | Community Programmes