Cheshire County treatment court reports higher incentives, expanded peer support and rising stimulant positives

Cheshire County commissioners on Oct. 16 received a detailed six‑month report from the county’s treatment court team outlining changes in participant needs, service delivery and program outcomes.

Allison, a treatment-court staff member, introduced the presentation and called attention to Seamus, the court’s peer-support worker funded through a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant through October 2025. ‘‘He is … one of the most respected peer support on any team,’’ Allison said, describing the role as instrumental to participant engagement.

Certified recovery support worker James Backdorf Dwire, who described duties including advocacy, mentoring, coaching and transportation, told commissioners the core of his work is helping participants ‘‘feel comfortable speaking with the team in a court setting’’ and building rapport so they will accept supports.

Program metrics presented to the commission show intensive use of low‑barrier, proximal goals: staff reported 1,438 incentives, 194 sanctions and 71 therapeutic interventions since January, a roughly 7.4-to-1 incentives-to-sanctions ratio that staff said exceeds the 4-to-1 best-practice target and many other court programs’ experience.

Staff also reviewed drug trends and treatment uptake. ‘‘Every single person in treatment court this year is on some form of medication-assisted treatment,’’ Allison said. Yet toxicology and test results showed a rise in stimulant positives (notably crack/cocaine and amphetamines) even as self‑reported primary diagnoses still skewed toward opioid use disorder. Presenters attributed the mismatch partly to MAT reducing opioid positives and partly to shifting local drug-supply patterns.

Program leaders flagged persistent nonclinical barriers: lack of sober living for women in the county, limited affordable housing and unreliable transportation that restrict participants’ ability to attend services and hold employment. Staff said they are using Pathway Home vouchers, local housing subsidies and donor funds to help, but county vacancy rates and limited facilities constrain placements.

Presenters described added services and partnerships: equine therapy donated sessions, a UNH nutrition class that awards $50 gift cards for full attendance, expanded online clinical offerings (DBT, EMDR) through Blue Heron, and broader community partner support. Allison noted the Seamus grant’s scheduled end in October 2025 and urged the county to identify funding to retain peer support staff.

The presentation also outlined a trauma‑informed court proposal that would contract mentorship and training for staff; initial scope-of-work estimates were around $40,000 over time, and staff said they were exploring grant or state funding options.

During Q&A, commissioners asked about Narcan availability and data tracking; staff said Narcan distribution is widespread but not fully reportable because many doses are administered outside formal reporting channels and many kits are privately held or donated. Presenters stressed that Narcan administration buys time but that EMS transport remains critical because Narcan effects can wear off.

The commissioners did not take a formal vote on program changes during the meeting. Staff said they will circulate requested details on grant timelines, program costs and proposed trauma‑informed‑court scope for follow-up.

Next steps: program staff will provide more detailed cost estimates and grant‑funding options to commissioners so the county can consider actions to retain peer‑support staffing and pursue the trauma‑informed court plan.