Community activism wins drug treatment

Last year, a coalition of 17 religious congregations in Daytona Beach, Florida entitled FAITH (Fighting Against Injustice Toward Harmony) proved that the prison industrial complex might have a weakness – an engaged and active community.

FAITH entered into discussion over local correctional policies in January 2000 when problems of drugs and crime continued to surface as a serious problem among its members. After months of research conducted by FAITH leaders, they concluded the single greatest systemic change they could make with regards to the problem of drugs and crime would be to call for the implementation of a treatment program within county jails.

Volusia County jailed 26,127 people in 2000 and research suggested that 80% of them had a substance abuse problem. Despite the vast numbers, no treatment programs could be found in the county’s jailing system and correctional staff told members of FAITH that the current administration did not believe that treatment in jails was necessary.

Meanwhile, statistics from across the country showed that substance abuse treatment programs introduced in jails reduced addiction, recidivism, taxpayer costs, and behavioral problems of inmates. Those outside the county’s correctional system were adamantly supportive of treatment during jail time.

FAITH concluded the problem was real and a good solution existed, but what was missing was the political power to make it happen. For congregational leaders with FAITH the failure to implement commonsense solutions to serious problems due to a lack of political will was a common phenomenon.

They had grown adept at becoming a serious grassroots powerhouse in the region. Under the direction of Haley Grossman, a young, trained organizer from the DART Organizers Institute, the group had fought and won important victories including education reform and new community policing programs within two short years of their formation.

On the jail issue, FAITH decided to take action directly with the person who could give them what they wanted. They called a public meeting to discuss the matter with the County Director of Corrections, Terry Moore. Over 1,200 representatives of FAITH packed the church sanctuary along with advocates from several substance abuse agencies. They clapped, sang and heard testimonies and research findings while they waited for the Director of Corrections. He never showed.

In response, FAITH launched into a full campaign. They began working with the media, conducting prayer sessions within the walls of the jail and pressuring county council members for some accountability within the correctional system. Finally, after five months the Director of Corrections committed to yet another public meeting with FAITH. This time he showed and within 30 minutes FAITH leaders left his office with a full commitment to create a substance abuse program within county jails. Recently at FAITH’s annual assembly, treatment providers and correctional personnel offered glowing testimonies about the immediate effects of the program.

Haley Grossman, the lead organizer with FAITH, can point to many people in terms of their success. "The leaders of this community just won’t back down. Even when the administration pretended we didn’t exist, the leaders persisted. But I would have to also credit the grassroots training provided by the DART Center staff. We couldn’t have done what we’ve done without their direction."

[The DART Organizers Institute is now taking applications for its paid training to start next summer. If you are interested in applying or finding out more about FAITH and organizations like it, please log on to: www.thedartcenter.org .]