Kentucky Court of Justice
Community resource fairs to be held in May for those affected by substance abuse
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Individuals affected by drug and/or alcohol abuse – whether their own or that of a loved one – are invited to learn about the resources available in their community for treatment, counseling, health care, employment and more at resource fairs that many communities will offer this month. Local Drug Court programs are organizing the community resource fairs.
The goal for each of the fairs is to have representation from every organization that has a resource to offer individuals affected by substance abuse, including private businesses. The fairs will include free materials on drug treatment, alcohol treatment, mental health counseling, health care, educational opportunities, employment opportunities and support systems. Several communities will be part of regional resource fairs.
In some areas, reservations are still being accepted from organizations that want to participate in resource fairs. There is no charge for participation. A table and chairs will be provided for each organization. Those interested in reserving a spot at a resource fair or obtaining more information should call the contact listed below for their area.
The fairs will be held in May in recognition of National Drug Court Month. The theme for this year’s National Drug Court Month is Celebrating 20 Years of Drug Court: Restoring Lives, Reuniting Families and Making Communities Safer. Among the goals the National Association of Drug Court Professionals set for the month is promoting the expansion of drug court programs nationwide to reach the millions of drug-addicted citizens in need of treatment. One of the NADCP’s local goals for the month is for drug court programs across the nation to increase the involvement of other agencies and community organizations in their operations.
“Kentucky Drug Court programs across the commonwealth have 2,200 active participants and nearly 3,000 people have graduated from those local Drug Court programs. Those numbers represent the people who have participated in Drug Court, but there are scores of family members and other loved ones who have journeyed with those participants through addiction and now recovery,” said Connie Payne, executive officer of Kentucky Drug Court, which oversees all local Drug Court programs. “Across the commonwealth, those families and loved ones tell Drug Court staff that they did not know where to turn or what resources were available to assist with substance abuse issues. Drug Court programs are very pleased to be involved with the upcoming resource fairs to provide citizens with one location where they can obtain information about local resources. Anything we can do to help those with the disease of addiction and those families and loved ones is a help to the entire community.”
Communities with upcoming resource fairs and the details for each event are:
Anderson County
May 14, 1-4 p.m. EDT
Anderson County Park, community room, 1026 County Park Road in Lawrenceburg
Contact: Elizabeth Nichols, 502-647-3774
Bell County
May 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT
Middlesboro Mall, 905 N. 12th St. (Kentucky 25-East) in Middlesboro
Contact: Angie Dunn, 606-337-2284
Breathitt, Powell and Wolfe counties
May 28, 12:30-4:30 p.m. EDT
Wolfe County Extension Office, 31 N. Washington St. in Campton
Contact: Robin Reynolds, 606-663-3592
Clinton, Cumberland, Monroe, Russell and Wayne counties
May 27, 9 a.m.-noon CDT
Clinton County Fairground, 335 Fairground Road in Albany
Contact: Barry Cross, 606-387-0945
Fayette County
May 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. EDT
District Courthouse plaza, 150 N. Limestone in Lexington
*Central Public Library basement if it rains, 140 E. Main St.
Contact: Danielle Sanders-Jackson, 859-246-2501
Laurel, Knox and Whitley counties
May 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. EDT
Parkway Church of God, 510 E. Cumberland Gap Parkway in Corbin
Contact: Allison Jackson, 606-330-2150
Northern Kentucky Drug Court (Boone, Campbell, Gallatin and Kenton counties)
May 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. EDT
Transitions Inc. Grateful Life Recovery Center, 305 Pleasure Isle Drive in Erlanger
Contact: Christine Braun, 859-586-0802
Shelby County
May 14, 1-4 p.m. EDT
Shelby County Public Library, 309 Eighth St. in Shelbyville
Contact: Elizabeth Nichols, 502-647-3774
Kentucky Drug Court
Drug Court is proving to be a positive solution to a serious social problem. The success of Drug Court can be measured in the number of lives changed and the cost savings to Kentucky taxpayers. The program has had a significant impact on reducing rearrest, reconviction and reincarceration rates. The program has resulted in increased payment of delinquent child support and improved employment rates. For every $1 spent on Drug Court graduates, the state saves $2.72 on what it would have spent on incarcerating these individuals.
The mission is to provide a court-supervised treatment alternative that stops illicit drug use and related criminal activity and promotes a positive life change through substance abuse education and treatment.
How Drug Court Works
Drug Court coordinates the efforts of the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social services and treatment communities to actively intervene and break the cycle of substance abuse, addiction and crime.
The program consists of three phases and aftercare and lasts at least 18 months for felony participants. Drug Court staff and participants work together to develop individual program plans with specific responsibilities and goals with timetables. Plans include group, family and individual counseling; frequent and random urine testing; education and vocational training; scheduled payments of restitution, child support and court fees; and health and community activities. Participants report directly to their Drug Court judge, who rewards progress and sanctions noncompliance.
When participants successfully complete the program, charges may be dismissed through diversion, or conditional discharge may be granted through probation. Judges who participate in Drug Court volunteer their time to the program, and much of the program’s funding comes from federal grants and state matching funds approved through the Kentucky General Assembly.
Kentucky Drug Court is administered through the Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort. The AOC is the operational arm of the Kentucky Court of Justice and supports the activities of 3,800 court system employees, including the elected offices of justices, judges and circuit court clerks.
For more information about Drug Court, visit http://courts.ky.gov/stateprograms/drugcourt/.