NCJ Number
179799
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 1999 Pages: 211-217
Date Published
September 1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The Miami Target Cities project developed in response to the city's large population of drug users, the goal being to provide appropriate drug treatment services.
Abstract
Project implementation efforts during the first 3 years centered around the establishment of a centralized treatment access system, an automated management information system to track treatment providers and clients, a Centralized Intake Unit, linkages with economic and social welfare providers, primary and preventive health care providers, and criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. The project had start-up difficulties, and several lessons were learned that should be taken into account by other jurisdictions attempting to implement similar projects: (1) take into account local history, government structures, and organizational arrangements; (2) establish a policy steering committee to guide the project; (3) incorporate existing initiatives such as drug courts, juvenile assessment centers, homeless shelters, and health care and welfare reforms into the local strategic and project planning process; (4) identify an appropriate management entity for the project and develop written agreements with participating service providers; and (5) conduct periodic project evaluations. 7 references