Team members attend NADCP Conference in Nashville

On July 25, 11 team members with the 37th Judicial Circuit Drug Courts (Carter, Howell, Oregon, and Shannon Counties) attended the four-day National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) RISE22 Conference held in Nashville, TN.

The event was attended by nearly 8,000 treatment court professionals from all 50 states and nine countries who specialize in all fields of treatment. The 37th Judicial Drug Courts were represented by Carter County Associate Judge Steven Lynxwiler, Shannon County Associate Judge Sandra Brewer, Howell County Prosecutor Michael Hutchings, Family Counseling Center (FCC) Therapist Melissa Meloy, FCC-Turning Leaf Clinical Manager Lee Brown, FCC-Turning Leaf Program Director Dr. Ken Tombley, Oregon/Carter County Case Manager Chris Johnston, Probation and Parole Officer Jessica Brown, Shannon County Drug Court Tracker Denise Bockman, 37th Judicial Circuit Drug Court Financial Manager Annie Vargas, and Family and Drug Court Coordinator Lois Ann Price. The team returned with a renewed energy to serve the drug court participants of the 37th Circuit.

For four days, attendees were treated to a program of more than 268 sessions on critical topics and earned up to 23 plus hours of continuing education. Led by renowned speakers, these sessions covered all treatment court models and the most pressing issues facing treatment courts today. 

Community Foundation of the Ozarks-West Plains awarded a grant of $2,000 to be used toward conference registration fees. Thank you, Community Foundation of the Ozarks, for your commitment to helping help others! Additional funding was obtained through federal grant funds earmarked for training.

There are many ways you can help support your local drug court. Drug Court participants receive sanctions if they do not remain in compliance with program rules; however, they also receive incentives in the form of food/restaurant gift cards. The drug courts rely upon donations and community support to provide those incentives. Providing “rewards” to those in drug court for doing the right thing might seem odd to some, but research shows that incentives are an effective tool in behavior modification. Many of the participants chose drug court knowing that it will be difficult because they are ready to turn their lives around and want the support drug court provides. Each participant is assigned a minimum of 150 hours of community service. The drug court is always looking for community service worksites at not-for-profit locations. If you would like to learn ways you could help your local drug court, please call 417-256-2432.