Juvenile Drug Court celebrates 40th graduation

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m., the Oakland County Family-Focused Juvenile Drug Court (JDC) will conduct its 40th graduation since its inception in June of 2001. The 127th through the 131st graduates will be honored with a ceremony and reception to be held in Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Mary Ellen Brennan's courtroom in the Oakland County Courthouse, 1200 North Telegraph Road in Pontiac. Titled OPTIONS-The Power to Choose, this program began in 2001 with only five participants. Since that time it has served 705 youth and their family members by intervening in the cycle of addiction. The mission of the Family-Focused Juvenile Drug Court is 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. The JDC program is a four-phase intervention program for non-violent juvenile offenders who find it difficult to maintain sobriety. The program includes substance abuse and mental health treatment, family therapy, individual therapy for participants and family members, in-home therapy and employment assistance for participants and their parents. Youth are encouraged and required to get involved in personal enrichment activities and recreation opportunities in addition to the therapy requirements. The program's key elements are: treating the entire family, very close judicial and community supervision, intense substance-abuse treatment, frequent drug and alcohol testing and a long-term commitment to the program requirements. Parent participation is essential part of the program. One youth about to graduate is Rob, age 17, who is an extremely talented writer, poet and rapper. Rob's drug of choice was marijuana which he had been using since he was just 11 years old. Rob has been sober since August 8, 2012, and has maintained steady employment throughout the majority of his time in JDC. Rob volunteers his time at a local animal shelter assisting with dog adoptions, in addition to completing chores for some of the elderly family members of other attendees at his home N.A. meeting. Rob has demonstrated that he is active in his recovery by maintaining communication with his sponsor almost on a daily basis and remaining active within his home meeting. Rob is enrolled in a GED program and plans to continue pursuing his talents within the areas of poetry and rap. Rob's father has been supportive and on board with JDC since day one; he has held Rob accountable and indicated repeatedly how proud he is of Rob for how far he has come since starting with JDC. "I am extremely proud 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: Fri, Sep 13, 2013

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