Challenge & Selection

I work in the Budget Office of a local government agency where I meet frequently with the Health and  Human Services department’s budget. One of their program’s budgets is the Adult Drug Court.  The  Adult Drug Court allows people who have been arrested for non-violent drug offenses to avoid jail time  by enrolling in addiction treatment services, meeting with private counselors, attending group therapy  sessions, obtaining employment and stable housing, and most importantly meeting with the Drug Court  Judge on a weekly basis to discuss their progress in the program. Once the person graduates from the  program, has a stable job and housing, and passes all drug tests, then the criminal drug charges are  deleted from the court record.

In evaluating budgets, the Budget Office uses performance metrics, such as the average length of stay in  the program, relapse rate, and how long after graduating the participants relapse, and average cost per  participant to evaluate how effective the program is. Almost all the data I report does not show the  individual’s journey. As a result, I found it difficult to defend the high program cost and its impact on the  community.

I realized this was a great opportunity to engage in storytelling. I would gain the logic, emotion, and  connection to the Adult Drug Court’s purpose. I could hear their stories about how the Drug Court  positively impacted their lives. That way, I could share their experiences of getting a job, finding housing,  and finding recovery in my program summary with the Budget Director to maintain program funding.

Application

I decided to spend the day with a couple of the program counselors to better understand their clients’  challenges and attend a session of the Adult Drug Court where I could hear from the participants  themselves about the program impact. I noticed one participant who looked proud and confident as the  Judge reviewed his weekly progress. She commented on his breakthrough in therapy and that his new  job seemed to be working well for him. He responded that he had faced some challenges in battling his  addiction, but the tools the counselors gave him were very effective. He also noted that working made  him feel proud that he was contributing to society again and could support himself financially.  I shared  his story during our budget meetings to support the department’s increased funding request for the  Drug Court. Based on this experience, combined with the performance metrics data, the Budget Director  approved the request.

Insight

The understanding I received from this site visit combined with a design thinking method of problem  solving has motivated me to increase the number of “site visits” that I attend during the year.   Experiencing the programs’ operations will allow me to respond to questions and concerns that service  providers, the Department and the Budget Office have. I will also see the programs’ community impact  and determine if some programs do not work well. During our annual budget discussion, I can  incorporate storytelling by drawing on specific examples from my site visits to clearly illustrate the  program’s function and efficacy.

Approach

To improve the storytelling approach, I would increase my interaction with the program participants.   Speaking with their counselors and hearing their testimony was extremely effective in gathering  program information, but I did not have the opportunity to speak with the participants themselves. If I  spoke directly with them, I could ask questions about what they thought worked well, could be  improved, or hindered their progress in completing the program. I could then combine their personal  accounts with the other perspectives, such as the counselors and Health and Human Services staff, and  the performance metric data to make more robust funding recommendations.

I could also alter my approach by selecting multiple site visit dates for the same program and see how  program participation varies by the season. This would enable me to ensure that the program staff  didn’t pick the most successful participants on the day I attended and that the program is consistent  throughout the year.


Challenge & Selection I work in the Budget Office of a local government agency where I meet frequently with the Health and Human Services department ’s budget . One of their program ’s budgets is the Adult Drug Court . The Adult Drug Court allows people who have been arrested for non - violent drug offenses to avoid jail time by enrolling in addiction treatment services , meeting with private counselors , attending group therapy sessions , obtaining employment and stable housing , and most importantly meeting with the Drug Court Judge on a weekly basis to discuss their progress in the program . Once the person graduates from the program , has a stable job and housing , and passes all drug tests , then the criminal drug charges are deleted from the court record . In evaluating budgets , the Budget Office uses performance metrics , such as the average length of stay in the program , relapse rate , and how long after graduating the participants relapse , and average cost per participant to evaluate how effective the program is . Almost all the data I report does not show the individual ’s journey . As a result , I found it difficult to defend the high program cost and its impact on the community . I realized this was a great opportunity to engage in storytelling . I would gain the logic , emotion , and connection to the Adult Drug Court ’s purpose . I could hear their stories about how the Drug Court positively impacted their lives . That way , I could share their experiences of getting a job , finding housing , and finding recovery in my program summary with the Budget Director to maintain program funding . Application I decided to spend the day with a couple of the program counselors to better understand their clients ’ challenges and attend a session of the Adult Drug Court where I could hear from the participants themselves about the program impact . I noticed one participant who looked proud and confident as the Judge reviewed his weekly progress . She commented on his breakthrough in therapy and that his new job seemed to be working well for him . He responded that he had faced some challenges in battling his addiction , but the tools the counselors gave him were very effective . He also noted that working made him feel proud that he was contributing to society again and could support himself financially . I shared his story during our budget meetings to support the department ’s increased funding request for the Drug Court . Based on this experience , combined with the performance metrics data , the Budget Director approved the request . Insight The understanding I received from this site visit combined with a design thinking method of problem solving has motivated me to increase the number of “ site visits ” that I attend during the year . Experiencing the programs ’ operations will allow me to respond to questions and concerns that service providers , the Department and the Budget Office have . I will also see the programs ’ community impact and determine if some programs do not work well . During our annual budget discussion , I can incorporate storytelling by drawing on specific examples from my site visits to clearly illustrate the program ’s function and efficacy . Approach To improve the storytelling approach , I would increase my interaction with the program participants . Speaking with their counselors and hearing their testimony was extremely effective in gathering program information , but I did not have the opportunity to speak with the participants themselves . If I spoke directly with them , I could ask questions about what they thought worked well , could be improved , or hindered their progress in completing the program . I could then combine their personal accounts with the other perspectives , such as the counselors and Health and Human Services staff , and the performance metric data to make more robust funding recommendations . I could also alter my approach by selecting multiple site visit dates for the same program and see how program participation varies by the season . This would enable me to ensure that the program staff did n’t pick the most successful participants on the day I attended and that the program is consistent throughout the year .