Nine mothers graduate to lives without drugs and with their children 
 
WHAT: Family Treatment Court Graduation    

WHEN: Friday, November 3, 11:00a.m. - 1p.m. 

WHERE: Jurors’ Lounge, Moultrie Courthouse – 3rd floor 500 Indiana Ave, NW    

WHO:  The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring, Presiding Judge of Family Court The Honorable William Jackson, Deputy Presiding Judge of Family Court The Honorable S. Pamela Gray, Family Treatment Court Judge    Mr. Kris Miles, Keynote Speaker 
 
Family Treatment Court Program details:

• Family Treatment Court is a yearlong comprehensive substance abuse treatment program for mothers and female guardians of children who are the subject of a child neglect allegations.  Those who participate stipulate to the allegations of neglect.
• The first nine months of treatment take place in a residential treatment facility in which the women reside along with up to four of their children who are under age eleven.
• The treatment facility provides on-site and community-based services, including substance abuse education and treatment, parenting skill workshops, counseling and childcare.
• If the participant successfully completes the residential phase, they participate in a formal graduation ceremony and proceed to the community-based aftercare phase.  It is this formal ceremony – the seventh such ceremony – that will take place Friday, November 3.
• As a result of this semester’s program, 39 children were not removed from their mothers.
• The DC Addiction Recovery and Prevention Administration (APRA) is the program’s continuing care treatment provider.
• Through the collaborative efforts of the Mayor’s Service Liaison Office, which is located within the Family Court, and stakeholder partnerships, the women who participate in the Family Treatment Court are assisted in efforts to obtain housing, jobs, and educational opportunities.
• The recidivism rate for drug treatment in the US is 90%; fewer than 50% of the Familiy Treatment Court graduates have relapsed. 

 
Mr. Kris Miles is a licensed professional counselor with a Master's Degree in Community Counseling, and is certified both as a National Certified Addictions Prevention specialist and as a Certified Master Addiction Counselor. He was interviewed by Black Entertainment Television News regarding the therapeutic impact of humor, and has participated in segments on the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Discovery Health Channel and CNN promoting humor as a prevention tool.

NOTE:  Judges will be available for interviews.  Mothers will also be available for interviews, with their permission.  Call 879-1700 in advance to get clearance for cameras and recorders.