The Celebration Rolls On

From every corner of the country, treatment courts are holding graduations, community events, fundraisers and declarations, and it’s amazing to see. What is your program doing to celebrate? Keep sending us your submissions! Here’s just some of what happened during week 3:

Support from Your State Officials

Senator Manchin (D-WV) | South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Gilbertson | Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nuss

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was the keynote speaker at the Kanawha County Drug Court graduation. He later tweeted, “I was honored to deliver the keynote address…I congratulate the graduates and am cheering them on as they move forward in their lives.”

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) delivered a Congressional floor speech, saying, “We need to invest in effective solutions. I use that word purposefully – ‘invest.’ With their proven track record of success, drug courts should be a keystone of our efforts to deal with the opioid crisis.”

Virginia joined the list of statewide Drug Court Month proclamations with a signature from Governor Ralph Northam.

Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss attended a veterans treatment graduation, later tweeting, “The vets don’t want a handout, but a hand up.” And South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson extolled the benefits of the state’s treatment courts serving more than 450 individuals and keeping more than 1,200 children with their parents and out of foster care.

Your Submissions 

Michigan’s District 41B Veterans Treatment Court held their largest graduation to date with 14 graduates. Not one, but two state supreme court justices attended the celebration.

Ohio’s Summit County Turning Point Program united their two dockets for a cookout to celebrate National Drug Court Month as one.

Kentucky’s Christian County Adult and Veterans Treatment Court held a graduation ceremony and proclaimed May as Drug Court Month with the support of their mayor and county judge.

 

New Mexico’s Eddy DWI/Drug Court celebrated graduates with the support of State Rep. Cathrynn Brown and Mayor Dale Janway.

Washington’s Island County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May as Drug Court Month and recognized the adult drug court team, including a graduate whose son was born drug-free while in the program.

Graduation Roundup

“This was the first time I felt like anyone believed in me.”
-Adam, Salt Lake County Drug Court graduate, Utah

“I want people to look at me and think, ‘If she can do it, I can do it.'”
-Laura, East Central Judicial District Drug Court graduate, North Dakota

“I’m so thankful for the second chance I’ve received.”
-Javier, Montgomery County Veterans Treatment Court graduate, Texas

“It not only saved my life, it changed the way that I live.”
-Andrew, drug court participant, North Dakota

“I felt hopeless and unworthy. This gave me a chance to grow and learn.”
-Donnice, Solano County Veterans Treatment Court, California

A special congratulations to new treatment court programs celebrating their very first class of graduates this month, including Ohio’s Lucas County Drug Court, Michigan’s 8th Judicial Circuit Recovery Court and Georgia’s Tift County Drug/DUI Court!

What is your treatment court doing for National Drug Court Month? Tell us here.

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