Dear County Official: 

WCA is encouraging counties to apply for $1 million annually in new state funding for Treatment, Alternatives and Diversion (TAD) grants and $500,000 in new state funding for the creation of new county drug courts.

The new funding was included as part of the 2013-15 biennial state budget. The budget also includes $1.038 million in continued funding for the seven existing TAD sites. 

The Department of Justice is now accepting applications for these grants. The deadline for applications is October 17th. Funding for approved TAD projects will begin on Jan. 1, 2014. Funding will be provided on an annual basis, but the Department has indicated that once funding is approved, the project will be funded for a five-year period, subject to the state budget process.

WCA is urging all counties that either have specialty/treatment courts or jail diversion programs or are considering these programs to apply for the TAD and drug court grants. Legislative leaders have indicated to WCA that funding for TAD and treatment court programs is likely to increase in future years if counties can demonstrate significant interest in these programs. If the demand for grants exceeds available funding, lawmakers will likely increase funding in the next state budget.

The Department of Justice is providing technical assistance to counties interested in applying for the grants. Tentative dates for grant application training sessions include September 16th in Marinette, September 17th or 18th in Fond du Lac and September 18th, 19th or 20th in Jackson or Eau Claire Counties.

Other opportunities will be available at the Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals conference and a September 23rd training offered by the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District to be held in Franklin. WCA will provide more details on these sessions as information becomes available.

Click below for the grant application - Deadline October 17th.