You've Gotta Friend In Me

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!

Without the help, support and donations from local community members, companies, and corporations, Reconnecting Families would not be as successful as it is today.

Reconnecting Families would like to give a warm thanks for all the contributions recently given to the organization. Eight printers were donated to the Family Drug Court Program by Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP. Aside from providing clients with legal services, Swift Currie is also active in helping the community. To learn more about the company and how they are actively helping the community visit their website by clicking here.

Reconnecting Families would also like to give gratitude and thanks to Calliespondence. The business owner, Callie Shockley Burnette helped out the Reconnecting Families program during Mother's Day. The business designed the Mother's Day appeal letters that were sent and given out to families and friends who are in and associated with the program. Calliespondence has also designed other stationary that is used at Reconnecting Families and lends support as a community sponsor. Calliespondence is a stationary and invitation company that offers customized wedding, event invitation and more. For more information about this organization and the products offered, click here! Oh, and be sure to follow her blog and get great decorating and stationary tips daily!

Thanks Calliespondence!

A special thanks is also given to Brenda Rhodes with Simple Needs Georgia. Reconnecting Families gave a couch and a swing set last week to two deserving families in the program thanks to the Simple Needs program. Simple Needs provide essentials such as toiletries, tents and furniture for those experiencing homelessness or recently emerging from another supportive program. There are three main programs that Simple Needs requests donations for:

1) Duffel bags with full-size toiletries to those living in homeless shelters.

2) For those living in the woods: supply them with tents and sleeping bags, along with other essentials.

3) Simple Needs distributes furniture and other household items to individuals and families with children, coming out of homelessness or otherwise in need. 

If you or someone you know would like to donate to the Simple Needs organization or volunteer you can do so by clicking here and visiting the website in order to find out more information!

"Father Crunk" takes a Visit to the Juvenile Drug Court

On May 25th, Father Ricardo Bailey, also known as "Father Crunk" made a special trip to the Juvenile Drug Court.  Father Bailey is a local Atlanta Priest who is well known for his motivational speeches. He has worked hard to touch the lives of teens and young adults by coming to their location and speaking. He also is able to reach his audience through occasional guest appearances as Father Crunk on the Q100's popular Bert Show.


Father Bailey believes one of the ways that you reach young adults is to meet them right where they are. He uses a modern manner in order to reach the young adults.

    

Father Bailey's inspirational message to the young adults of the Juvenile Drug Court was high in attendance and had a positive, uplifting impact on everyone who attended. 

Thanks Father Bailey for coming to talk and showing your support to the Marietta Community!

Look for Father Ricardo Bailey on the radio!

Reconnecting Families Supported a Successful Mother's Day

Sunday, May 8^th, 2011 marked an extremely important day for many families in the community, Mother's Day.

With the generous donations and support given to Reconnecting Families from friends and sponsors, this Mother's Day provided women in the program a day to enjoy and celebrate with their children. RF has raised $3,300 that has aided in the success for many women who are mothers. The RF program has allowed for participants like Melanie to successfully get their lives back on the track to success and sobriety. 

Melanie entered the Family Dependency Treatment Court on November 16, 2009 after being on a long road that involved drugs, alcohol, and abuse. 

Since Melanie was 13 years old, she had been faced with drug abuse and instability. Melanie became pregnant with two beautiful children while she was young and in an unhealthy relationship,  and he ended up in jail. She later fell in love again; only to learn that this was also an unhealthy relationship.

After the birth of her third child, Melanie became insecure and depressed and increased her drug use causing her to lose her home and her children.

Thanks to her devotion to her treatment since 2009, Melanie has now flourished into a woman. She now has a job and is in the Aftercare Program where she will soon graduate successfully. She has been drug free for 14 months. She now has an apartment and is a full time student.

Treatment has allowed her, like many other mothers, to grow emotionally and to learn what it means to be a mother. Melanie will be regaining custody of her children at the end of the school year!

This success story shows the value of the Reconnecting Families program and the beauty of family and motherhood!

Congratulations to the soon to be Graduates of Celebrating Families!

Thank you to those who aided in the success of the recently completed Celebrating Families Program. This research driven and successfully proven treatment program worked with both the children and parents on the same issues.

Help and support came from community members who assisted in the success of this program. 

Thanks to people like Joe Ahn from Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill, George Tingly, and friends!

Each Thursday night this program begins with a meal shared by the entire family. Recently, great food from Sidelines marked the completion meal of the 16-week Thursday night program! Delicious dinner  like this and from others who have donated or prepared and served the meals helped aid in CF achievement.

Congratulations to the 32 parents and 53 children who will graduate from Celebrating Families!

Reconnecting Families was Represented at the Cobb Chamber Business Expo!



Reconnecting Families set up a table and spread awareness at the Cobb Chamber Business Expo 2011.

 May 19th, 2011

See the pictures and let us know if you were there!  Join us on Facebook (Here) to learn more about what RF is doing for Cobb County....

Also, a big thanks to Melanie and Susan, two of our participants who spent the afternoon at the event sharing their success stories.



Thanks Melanie and Susan!









President Obama Praises Drug Courts in Special Commencement Week Message!

President Obama today issued a special message to Drug Court professionals, sending his greetings to everyone celebrating National Drug Court Commencement Week and praising Drug Courts as a smart investment. The President’s message highlights Drug Courts as a critical part of the Administration’s strategy to provide alternatives to incarceration for drug-addicted offenders, lauding Drug Courts for breaking the cycle of drug abuse and crime and annually transforming the lives of 120,000 citizens in need of treatment. 

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) posted the message this morning on their blog, Of Substance, writing “National Drug Court Commencement Week provides key Federal, state, and local stakeholders the opportunity to attend any of the drug court graduations occurring across the country.  Drug court graduations offer a glimpse into the best of drug courts, as participants successfully complete their terms of treatment and accountability, and exit the criminal justice system in recovery.  ONDCP joins the President in recognizing more than 2,400 drug courts across the Nation and will continue to highlight the proven effectiveness of drug courts in reducing drug use and its consequences.”

This message comes midway through National Drug Court Month, which is generating inspiring stories throughout the Nation, and is a testament to the courageous work undertaken by Drug Court professionals and those they serve. You are making a profound impact and it has not gone unnoticed!

To read President Obama’s special message and ONDCP’s National Drug Court Commencement Week blog entry, click here.

Read what the White House Offers on Drug Courts

Curious about Drug Courts?  Read the information the White House offers:

Follow this link to learn more...

CLICK HERE

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day!

Reconnecting Families wishes to say Happy Mother's Day weekend to all of the Cobb County community and the mothers of the Family Dependency Treatment Court!

Have a safe and love filled weekend!

Harry's Market Fundraising Hiatus: UPDATE

Harry's Market Update

A quick note to all:  Due to the recent tornadoes, Harry"s has halted the Donate Your Dime Campaign to benefit Reconnecting Families, Inc.  Harry's will be raising money for the victims of the recent tornado disaster instead.  Please continue to support the tornado victims by shopping at Harry's, and we will notify you when RF is once again involved with the campaign.

Thanks so much!

Home is Where the Heart is- Help Needed!

Furniture and Help Needed!

So many of our donors and friends of RF ask us "What can I do?".  A #1 area RF needs help is with furniture.  Do you or anyone you know plan to move or have a need to donate furniture?  Beds, dressers, living room items??  Call us at RF, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Call or email Brin Black- Executive Director

reconnecting.families@cobbcounty.org

770.528.2291