July 17-20, 2011
Call for Proposals Due September 24, 2010
Organization: 5th Judicial District Drug Court Treatment Program/Russellville, AR
Position: Drug Court Counselor
Years in Drug Court: 8.5 years
What about your Drug Court Team are you most proud of? Our team’s ability to work together and bring about positive change for the community.
What has been your biggest challenge this year? Addressing the mental health issues with limited funding for in-patient and medication therapy.
How has your membership in the NADCP helped your team? It has offered us new information and the knowledge that we are a part of a team that is much larger then just ourselves.
How have NADCP/NDCI trainings improved your court? We have benefitted from cultural and organizational trainings with both bringing us new insight of operations to enhance our own court.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work? I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and doing volunteer work. I spend time in my flower gardens to relieve stress.
How has your work in Drug Court impacted your life? It has allowed me to understand that most individuals that have entered the judicial system as an offender are there not because that was just who they were; it was because of circumstances that they had encountered in their lives.
Tell us about your most memorable Drug Court experience: Having a graduate drop by the office, within a year of graduation to show me a deed to their new home they just purchased. They wanted to let me know that through budgeting which they learned in Drug Court they were able to buy this and would not have if they never entered the program.