Enhancing Information Sharing in Family Drug Courts: A Lean Six Sigma Case Study

• Date: 01 September 2017
• Author: Veronica Curiel,Sarah Bogard,Lee Revere,Alicia Franklin York,Jamison V. Kovach
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12095
• Published date: 01 September 2017

Enhancing Information Sharing in Family Drug

Courts: A Lean Six Sigma Case Study

By Jamison V. Kovach, Veronica Curiel, Alicia Franklin York, Sarah Bogard, and

Lee Revere

ABSTRACT

Given the variety of stakeholders involved in cases within family drug courts,

efficient communication and information sharing, which are needed to support deci-

sion-making, can be quite challenging. Through a case study in one family drug

court system, this research employed an action research approach to improve the

information sharing process following the Lean Six Sigma methodology. The solu-

tions implemented through this study contributed to improving the quality of the

services provided by this court system and its overall productivity. In addition, this

research extends our knowledge about methods for improving court systems from

which others can learn to guide future improvement efforts.

Jamison V. Kovach is an Associate Professor at the University of Houston. In addition, she serves as

the Director of the Lean Six Sigma professional training program for the College of Technology. Her current

research investigates how quality/continuous improvement approaches affect performance and/or decision-

making within organizations, expanding the use of these methods, and developing new improvement

approaches.

Veronica Curiel has a Master’s degree in Supply Chain and Logistics Technology from the Univer-

sity of Houston. She is certified in Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training from the University of Houston. Ms.

Curiel is pursuing a career in industry focused on project management and supply chain.

The Honorable Alicia Franklin York is the Presiding Judge of the 311

th

District Family Court and

the director of the Family Intervention-Infant Toddler Court, the only Family Drug Court in Harris County.

She is a graduate of Mount Mercy College and St. Mary’s School of Law. She was recently appointed to the

Specialty Courts Advisory Committee by Governor Greg Abbott, for term from December 12, 2016, to

February 1, 2021.

Sarah Bogard, M.A. is the Project Director for the Family Intervention-Infant Toddler Court. She is

a Licensed Psychological Associate who has been a part of the Infant Toddler Court initiative in both Harris

and Fort Bend counties since 2008. She began in 2008 as a project intern while pursuing a Master’s Degree

in Psychology from Houston Baptist University.

Lee Revere, Ph.D., M.H.A. directs the Fleming Center and the Healthcare Management program,

and teaches quality evaluation and improvement, research methods and proposal development, and leader-

ship at the University of Texas School of Public Health. Before earning her doctorate in public health, she

held numerous leadership positions in the healthcare industry. Dr. Revere has authored many works aimed

at process improvement, service utilization and costs, and innovative instruction for learning.

Juvenile and Family Court Journal 68, No. 3

©2017 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

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