Operational Meetings for Treatment Courts is a Must

At the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP) Coordinators & Case Manager’s Conference, I had the opportunity to ask the audience, “[h]ow many of your treatment courts hold “business” or “operational” meetings, in addition to regular team review meetings?” Only a few hands went up. I understand that no one wants to attend more meetings, but having designated meetings to discuss the operational side of your treatment court team is a must. Regular operational meetings ensure that all treatment court stakeholders are knowledgeable about the health and functionality of the court. These meetings may include reviewing statistical information, assessing if policy and procedure align with actual practice, examining the financial health of the court, and evaluating progress towards performance metrics.

Operational Meetings and Best Practices

According to All Rise, the operational and strategic aspects of treatment courts are the collective responsibility of the team.  While each team member has a specific role, the overall well-being and functionality of the court is a shared responsibility. The Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards suggest that operational meetings should be held at least semi-annually for established courts and quarterly for newer courts. These meetings should include the entire treatment court team as well as individuals who deal with the finances or data analysts, your commissioners (or other appropriate government officials), and community agencies that serve your participant’s needs[1]. Including these individuals in the meetings ensures that everyone is continually apprised of the treatment court’s successes and struggles. This can be invaluable in the event of competing interests or when budget challenges arise.

Operational Meetings in Action

Once you have everyone at the table, you may be asking yourself, “[w]hat should we discuss at these operational meetings?” These meetings are an opportunity to look at the overall functioning of the court and to receive input from all stakeholders. Agenda items should include, at a minimum: outcome and performance measures; budget; and policy.

When discussing the outcome and performance measures, one might highlight any noticeable trends in the numbers, such as an uptick in absconders from the court. What are some of the reasons this might be occurring? Has there been a change in staffing or service providers that might be contributing to this trend?

When examining the budget, consider if there are adequate resources to serve all of the participants. Also consider, is there an anticipated lapse or shortfall of funds? Sharing this information ensures that any of the team’s recommendations can be sustained by the current budget. It also provides team members with adequate notice if additional resources or funding may be needed.

Lastly, these meetings are an opportunity to review the court’s policies and procedures to ensure they align with Standards and Best Practices and to address any other challenges the court may be facing. Have there been any legislative changes enacted that need to be incorporated into policy? Are participants facing any access and/or service barriers? Sharing this type of information is not only informative for the team, but also allows for input from a variety of sources and perspectives in crafting proactive solutions to identified issues.

Operational Meetings and Sustainability   

Holding regular operational / business meetings is a must for treatment courts. Ensuring that all key stakeholders are apprised as to how the court is performing is in the best interests of the court. Keeping members informed on these issues can, according to the Adult Treatment Court Best Practice Standards,, “…avoid erosion of their knowledge and support for the program and best practices. If your treatment court isn’t currently holding annual operational meetings, it’s an easy fix, and one that will help your court operate at optimal efficiency for the long term.

[1] This is not meant to be an exhaustive list. Treatment Courts may choose to include individuals and/or agencies not specifically listed but who are key stakeholders.