Oakland County youth graduate from Drug Treatment Court

Amanda (not her real name) stood before the courtroom and took a deep breath before she began, "Without JDC (Juvenile Drug Court) in my life I would be a completely different person. Today is January 25, and it is weird to think that exactly one year ago today, I was on my way to Kairos Healthcare (rehab). Today I am one year clean (from pills and marijuana), one year ago, I was angry, frustrated, sad and felt like my life was ending. Now, standing here today, I realize that my life was actually just beginning..." On Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m., the Oakland County Family-Focused Juvenile Drug Court will conduct its thirty-fourth graduation since its inception in June 2001 in the Oakland County Commissioner's Auditorium. Six of the graduates (including Amanda) and their families will be honored with a ceremony and reception. Not only will this be one of the largest graduating classes, but it will also be Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan's first graduating class. Brennan began presiding over the Juvenile Drug Court in August of 2010. Titled OPTIONS--The Power to Choose, this program began in 2001 with five participants, and has served more than 594 youth and their family members to date. It is the mission of the Family Focused Juvenile Drug Court to promote public safety and reduce juvenile drug crime rates by helping substance abusing youthful offenders and their families achieve drug-free lives and healthy relationships. Services provided while a participant is in drug court include substance abuse and mental health treatment, family therapy, individual therapy for participants and family members, in-home therapy, assistance with transportation, employment assistance for participants and parents, personal enrichment activities, recreation opportunities, and other services as needed to assist families to succeed. OPTIONS is a four-phase intervention program for repeat, non-violent, juvenile offenders who find it difficult to maintain sobriety. The program's key elements are: treating the entire family, very close judicial and community supervision, intense substance-abuse treatment, frequent substance abuse testing and a long-term commitment to program requirements. Parent participation is a key program component. "I am so proud of each of our graduates," stated Brennan, presiding judge of the JDC. "This program is difficult and challenging and lots of hard work. These are young people who are committed to their sobriety. They have certainly earned my respect." Published: Thu, Mar 17, 2011

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