SUBMITTED APPLICATION.PDF

Submitted on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 - 1:39pm
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==Organization Details==
Organization Name: Maricopa County Office of the Legal Defender
Street Address: 222 N. Central Avenue, STE.8100
City: Phoenix
State: Arizona
Zip: 85004
Organization Annual Budget: Greater than $5,000,001
Head of Organization Name: Marty Lieberman
Head of Organization Title: Legal Defender
Head of Organization Phone: 602-506-8800
Head of Organization Email: Marty.Lieberman@old.maricopa.gov
==Contact Person==
Application Contact Person Name: Lisa Bolinger
Application Contact Person Title: Holistic Defense Coordinator
Application Contact Person Phone: 602-506-8800
Application Contact Person Email: Lisa.Bolinger@old.maricopa.gov
==Host Site Eligibility Requirements==
Eligibility Requirement 1:
Eligibility Requirement 2:
This determinant statement is true of my organization
Eligibility Requirement 3:
This determinant statement is true of my organization
Eligibility Requirement 4:
This determinant statement is true of my organization
If you answered yes to all, you have met the eligibility requirements to be considered as an
applicant. If you have not answered yes to all items above, please provide an explanation as
to why not and why your organization should be considered. :
Emily has advised we may submit our application with the understanding it is based on our
pending approval of our Board of Supervisors. Marty Lieberman and myself have individual
memberships. We have submitted a proposal to our umbrella agency, the Office of Public

Defense Services (OPDS). The proposal includes program membership and all associated costs
of Host Sites We have received approval from OPDS and go before the Maricopa County Board
of Supervisors for final approval on March 7, 2018.
==Host Site Participation and Responsibilities==
This project is designed to help Public Defender offices who
recognize the importance of Community Oriented Defense practices
and data driven decision making. Please share the ways in which
your office currently adheres to these practices. :
We began our quest to adopt holistic defense practices in 2014 after being awarded a Holistic
Defense Grant from the Bronx Defender's Office. The grant afforded us the opportunity to
conduct a site visit at the Bronx Defender's Office and meet with various staff and brainstorm
ways to incorporate holistic defense practices based on our office vision and mandates of
Maricopa County. Additionally, members from the Bronx Defender's Office conducted
a site visit at our office, met with other Criminal Justice stakeholders within Maricopa County
government, provided input on incorporating holistic defense practices in our office, and
provided informational training to our office staff about the benefits of holistic defense and ways
we can incorporate those practices in the representation of our clients.
After receiving the grant, we were able to bring a part-time fellow on for one year to create a
program based on our vision with the financial assistance of Maricopa County. During the term
of the fellow, we were able to create a partnership with one of the local RHBA (Regional
Behavioral Health Authority) providers. In conjunction with the provider, an assessment process
was created in which we conduct an initial meeting to determine eligibility for our Holistic
Defense Program and they assess client treatment needs, provide treatment and oversight in areas
of substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic violence, and trauma, and maintain an
ongoing dialogue with our program.
Our initial target was to work with our female clients who were dually represented in Criminal
and Dependency Court. In July of 2017, Maricopa County provided us with a permanent part-
time position for a Holistic Defense Coordinator. We have expanded the program to offer
services to any client who may be eligible for a probation plea.
The Holistic Defense Coordinator has attended training and is currently certified to assist clients
in applying for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Medicaid agency),
which is a large stumbling block to obtaining services if clients are not enrolled. Relationships
have been established with agencies that routinely provide services to our clients. Connections
have been made with Maricopa County Adult Probation, specifically the programs director. The
Holistic Defense Coordinator arranged for Maricopa Community Resources Mapping
Coordinator to provide training for use of the GIS instrument for office staff. The Holistic
Defense Coordinator has met with representatives from the RBHA, Maricopa County Workforce
Connections, Arizona @ Work, Juvenile Court Cradles to Crayons Program, and several
community social service agencies that interact with our clients.
A manual has been created to provide guidance for documenting and retaining client contacts
and other important file records. A resource manual has been created that exists in a "shared

drive" for all office staff to use and assist clients with. Most importantly, we are working directly
with clients to locate and schedule treatment and other needed resources. We are currently in the
process of securing an intern from Arizona State University (ASU) for the Fall 2018 – Spring
2019 semesters.
In addition to supporting Public Defender offices who support Community Oriented Defense
practices, one goal of this project is to help these same offices to overcome roadblocks that
prevent effective practices in this area across the nation. Please share the roadblocks that your
organization currently face that prevent you from effectively implementing Community Oriented
Defense practices or data driven decision making. :
While the office has a vision and mission, we need assistance in identifying data to be collected
to determine best practices using an evidence-based model. We need assistance identifying what
success is and how we measure it. In order to look for additional funding sources and grow the
program, we must be able to demonstrate that what we are doing is supported by the data we
collect. At present, we are documenting what we are doing but, it is not particularly useful for
planning purposes. When we started with a very narrow focus, we were not able to generate the
numbers we needed to do a meaningful analysis. Now we are attempting to work with such a
broad group, we are struggling with what to collect, how best to measure the effectiveness of the
program, and promote it to various stakeholders. Additionally, the Holistic Defense Coordinator
does not have the available hours to work with clients, engage in community outreach and, create
a meaningful data collection system. With the assistance of a VISTA member, a system could be
created that could be adhered to by the existing staff in the office.
Cost Requirements Checkbox:
I understand/agree with the Cost Share requirement
All Host Sites will be required to cover the travel and accommodation cost for the Site
Supervisor to attend two (2) mandatory in-person orientation/training events. These events are
most likely to occur during approximately the first and sixth month of the term of service. :
I understand/agree that my organization will cover the Site Supervisor travel and
accommodation costs to attend these events
Your organization understands that all VISTA members’ positions must directly contribute to the
DCS-VISTA project performance measures as well as any and all AmeriCorps VISTA project
regulations. :
I understand/agree Each DCS-VISTA member and site will leverage the power of community
collaboration and of data to achieve long-term and sustainable change, therefore it is critical that
host organizations support their members in all projects and project modules in order to achieve
the our ambitious yet realistic goals.

How will your organization recruit and support your AmeriCorps VISTA member(s) and support
them throughout their term of service?
Our office is supported by Maricopa County Administration in our mission to reduce recidivism
through the "Smart Justice" Council (a document describing the program will be forwarded to
Emily). Maricopa County has invested in providing criminal justice agencies with support
through the Justice System Planning and Information work group in an effort to establish best
practices to reducing recidivism. They can assist with the collection of data points and analysis
of information.
Additionally, we have a Holistic Defense Coordinator and various supervisors in the criminal,
dependency, and mitigation divisions who assist in the ongoing development and support of the
program. We have a Litigation Support Analyst that can assist a VISTA member with IT issues.
The Legal Defender has been actively involved in the creation, continued growth, and success of
the program. Supervisors from each division were actively involved in the creation of the
program and previous selection of a fellow and will be involved in the recruitment of any VISTA
member or additional staff along with the current Holistic Defense Coordinator.
Additionally, the office recently added a new position who will work with both our criminal and
dependency divisions and has an MSW. She will act as a liaison to the Holistic Defense
Coordinator.
Please describe any key partnerships that will help your AmeriCorps VISTA member(s) to
achieve project success in the area of Community Partnerships and/or in Data Systems.:
The office has a partnership with Maricopa County's Justice System and Planning and
Information Department (JSPI). This branch of the County assists with the data collection and
analysis of multiple agencies that are stakeholders in justice reform and evidence-based
practices. They can provide assistance in data collection and goal identification, as well as
provide data from other agencies that may offer guidance in the development and establishment
of data collection, manual systems for our office, and updated business practices. A partnership
with JSPI will also help us continue and expand our relationship with other Maricopa County
(and other) criminal justice stakeholders as they are a focus point within the County for criminal
justice programming.
Additionally, the office has a Holistic Defense Coordinator and recently added and additional
staff member that will work with both our criminal and dependency divisions. She has an MSW
and will act as a liaison to the Holistic Defense Coordinator and program. The Holistic Defense
Coordinator has experience training staff and in the creation of manuals and resource guides and
will collaborate with the VISTA member in completion of identified manuals, training events,
and guides.
==Host Site Supervisor Role and Responsibilities==
Site Supervisor Name: Lisa Bolinger

Site Supervisor Title, Role: Holistic Defense Coordinator
VISTA Member Supervision Plan:
The VISTA member will be overseen by the Holistic Defense Coordinator on a day to day basis.
A minimum of one sit down meeting per week will be used to discuss tasks to be completed for
the week and identifying what will be needed by the VISTA member from the Holistic Defense
Coordinator to complete the assignments. The Holistic Defense Coordinator will schedule and
attend meetings with the VISTA member and various stakeholder groups that have been
identified as able to provide needed assistance. The Holistic Defense Coordinator will
have informal daily check-ins to ensure that goals and tasks to meet those goals are agreed upon.
The Holistic Defense Coordinator and VISTA member will meet with the Legal Defender a
minimum of one time per month to discuss needs and progress made. Quarterly meetings, or
more often if needed, will be scheduled to include representatives from the Criminal,
Dependency, and Mitigation divisions of the office to provide updates, collect input and
information from the divisions that may impact the implementation of new business practices to
ensure sustainability and provide progress reports.
NLADA will issue a pre/post organizational assessment tool to all selected VISTA project sites.
The tool will include information such as initial process mapping metrics, goal identification,
progress towards goal completion, metrics documenting the depth and breadth of capacity
building impact, sustainability prompts, and organizational satisfaction metrics. Site supervisors
will be responsible for submitting completed pre/post assessment tools to NLADA in a timely
manner. :
In understand/agree that the site supervisor will submit completed pre/post assessment tools to
NALDA in a timely manner
Reporting Requirements Agree Checkbox:
I understand/agree
==VISTA Member Roles and Responsibilities==
VISTA Member Roles and Responsibilities Description Agree Checkbox:
I have read and accept the project requirements listed above and understand that failure to
achieve desired project outcomes may result in poor standing with NLADA and the
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
==Member Selection==
Please select which category of DCS-VISTA you are interested in
applying to host:

One (1) Data System VISTA member for a 12-month term of service
For any Community Partnership VISTA member that you are applying to host, please identify
which project module you are interested in executing:
Please describe how executing this project module will support
your organization to more holistically support communities in
need.:
For any Data System VISTA member that you are applying to host, please identify which project
module you are interested in executing:
Public Defender Impact Project Module Please describe how executing this project module will
support your organization to more holistically support communities in need. :
Beginning in 2014, our office made a commitment to adopt a holistic defense model. Our efforts
began with a grant from the Bronx Defender's Office. A year later, we were able to secure a
part-time fellow for one year to take the vision that we had and create a program. After the
conclusion of the fellowship, our office was approved for a permanent part-time Holistic Defense
Coordinator. We are working with a small number of clients, have created partnerships with a
number of stakeholders and providers in our community, and have created procedure and
resource manuals.
What we have not been able to do is create a system that collects meaningful data so that we can
properly evaluate the effectiveness of our program. The hours needed to create a data collection
system that will accurately capture the information we need to make sound policy decisions,
needed adjustments, and secure additional funding cannot be achieved with the part-time
position we have.
However, if we can continue to focus on client service and expanding community outreach while
sound business systems are being created and put into place, we can pursue additional funding
and expand our service to clients and the community. The Holistic Defense Coordinator is an
instructor in the Social Work Program at ASU and will have a greater ability to attract strong
candidates for internships once we have a robust system of collecting and tracking data that
supports evidence-based practices. Growth and more meaningful service to clients and the
community will come from sound accurate data collection and decision making based on that
data.
==Final Confirmation==
I agree that this application is complete to the best of my
knowledge and abilities. :
I understand/agree

Please type your name here as an electronic signature that all
information presented in this application is true and accurate. :
Lisa Bolinger
The results of this submission may be viewed at:
http://www.nlada.org/node/13451/submission/6696