Welcome Reclaiming Futures Duval County, Florida

Last week I had the honor of visiting one of our new Reclaiming Futures sites, Duval County Reclaiming Futures, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Led by the Honorable Judge Henry E. Davis, treatment and court staff closely monitor teens to help them break the cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime.
The team is working to keep kids in school, in their homes and out of juvenile justice facilities by implementing the following practices:

• Enhancing and improving access to substance abuse and mental health treatment services for Reclaiming Futures participants and their families.
• Implementing a comprehensive system of care incorporating various community-based services for families involved in Reclaiming Futures.
• Inspiring the Duval County community to become involved with youth and families in need.

When young people in the justice system in Duval County participate in treatment, work well in school, remain drug-free, and graduate from drug court, the State Attorney may dismiss the underlying charges.
Teens reclaim their futures, and the system works, with the combined effort of the courts, law enforcement, mental health and treatment.
We want to extend a special welcome to the core partners of Reclaiming Futures Duval County:

• Judges of Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
• Office of the Court Administrator, Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida
• City of Jacksonville, Florida
• Office of the State Attorney- Duval County
• Office of the Public Defender- Duval County
• River Region Human Services
• Gateway Community Services
• Department of Juvenile Justice

Photo above: St. Johns River and Duval County Courthouse, Jacksonville, Florida 
To learn more about bringing Reclaiming Futures to your community, please call 503-725-8911.

Susan Richardson is national executive director for Reclaiming Futures. Formerly, she was a senior program officer in the health care division of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in North Carolina, where she led a three-year effort involving the state's juvenile justice and treatment leaders to adopt the Reclaiming Futures model by juvenile courts in six North Carolina counties. She received her B.S. in Public Health, Health Policy and Administration, from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.