TASC: Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities

TASC, a division of Meridian HealthCare, works together with the Mahoning Valley Criminal Justice System to help offenders with chemical dependency issues.

Contact Meridian TASC

Getting to Know Meridian’s TASC Program

The work of TASC benefits not only the clients it serves but the entire community. The correlation between crime and the use of drugs and/or alcohol is well known. Through early identification, assessment, referral, monitoring and case management, offenders participating in the program are more likely to have a successful treatment experience. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood that they will re-offend.

TASC Court Relationships

As an OhioMHAS-certified agency, TASC works closely with a number of Mahoning Valley entities, including the Mahoning County Common Pleas Drug Court, Family Dependency Treatment Court, Juvenile Treatment Court and Jail Program, and the Department of Youth Services Re-Entry Project.

Judges may offer certain offenders the option of getting treatment instead of jail time. The offenders must stay drug-free, verified by regular testing, and meet other conditions. TASC also assists in referrals to ancillary services such as mental health counseling, GED classes, job training, etc.

Meridian currently provides TASC testing assessments, drug testing, case management and non-intensive outpatient services to several specialty court programs, all Mahoning County Courts, the Adult Parole Authority, and Girard Municipal Court.

Following a comprehensive assessment that matches the client with the most appropriate level of care based on OhioMHAS criteria, the program facilitates referrals to treatment. Factors such as transportation barriers, specific client programming and client preference are considered.

Impact of TASC Supportive Services

For every dollar invested in treatment and prevention, eleven dollars (used for criminal justice fees and community loss) are saved.

Since its founding in 1999, Meridian HealthCare’s TASC program has provided services to over 12,000 offenders in Mahoning County.

TASC helps offenders engage in treatment and assists in referrals to all other ancillary needs: mental health providers, GED (high school equivalency) classes, job training, etc.

Referring to TASC Services

Referrals to our TASC program can be made by individuals within the following organizations (self-referrals are also accepted):

Municipal Courts
County Courts
Common Pleas Court
Mahoning County Juvenile Court
Adult Parole Authority
County Probation Officers

Children’s Services
Department of Youth Services
Attorney
Law Enforcement
Self-Referral

For referral information and referral forms, call 330-797-0070.

Health Services That Improve Lives

Meridian HealthCare is a non-profit 501(c)(3), Joint Commission accredited, integrated behavioral and primary healthcare organization with over 45 years of high-quality service delivery throughout Youngstown and northeast Ohio.

We look to deliver whole-person care while improving lives and strengthening communities. Meridian is more than just a health care provider – we are here to connect and make a difference!

Mahoning County Common Pleas Drug Court

This program typically lasts 12-24 months and eligibility requires a pending, non-violent felony

Offenders must not have had a prior conviction for a violent offense.
Individuals must have the desire to seek help for a drug/alcohol addiction.

Jail Services

IROCS is a coordinated effort to identify offenders who are dealing with mental health or substance use disorders. Meridian also provides the following: Assessments, Groups, Case Management, IROCS – Incarceration to Release Offender Coordinated Services, and Vivitrol (Trumbull County Jail only).

Department of Youth Services Re-Entry Program (DYS)

TASC works with all youth returning to the county after a previous sentence to a state facility. TASC assists in re-integration and offers referrals and advocacy for needed services in the community. This is a joint project with the state parole, the courts, and TASC.

Youth Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Group (CBT)

TASC teaches a CBT group in youth detention for young adults who are placed in this specific unit by a Judge or Magistrate. TASC recognizes that youth with substance use or mental health issues benefit from this type of intervention.

FAQ and General Information

How long does the TASC program last?

Regular TASC clients are in the program an average of 6-12 months. Specialty court programs can last longer.

What is the benefit of TASC? Isn’t it the same as treatment?

TASC provides case management services and random drug testing. We assist each person in obtaining referrals to needed services (such as mental health counseling, GED classes and job training) and provide feedback to your probation officer. This type of technical assistance and access to behavioral health services increase the likelihood of successful recovery.

Where do referrals come from?

Meridian’s TASC program gets referrals from Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, Mahoning County Courts (Austintown and Boardman) Juvenile Court, Youngstown Municipal Court, Girard Municipal Court and the Adult Parole Authority. Clients must have a substance abuse diagnosis.

How are TASC services paid for?

We accept Medicaid, indigent clients based on sliding fee, and court referrals through grant eligibility. We will exhaust all possible funding options before requiring a co-pay.