A Day In the Life..

The Cobb County Juvenile Court is a system made up of many positions and even more hard working individuals. These individuals spend each day working towards the same goal, to help provide juveniles who are in the court program with a healthy, sober, and safe environment to grow up in.




One of the main groups of people responsible for helping to make sure that it is possible for these kids to stay safe and out of trouble are probation officers. 


As a juvenile probation officer, he or she is responsible for providing probationary supervision to juveniles who are on probation or parole as determined by the courts. They make visits to the juveniles' home on a regular basis to ensure that they are in compliance with juvenile court orders. 


Often, probation officers assist in the juveniles rehabilitation by meeting with the juvenile and their families to conduct social histories and assessments. 


Aside from the paperwork, drug screenings, and juvenile surveillance, a probation officer has the opportunity and goal to develop a supportive relationship with the youth and help to serve as a role model. Accountability helps to show these youth that who they are and what they do, whether it is good or bad, matters. 


After a recent ride along with Cobb County probation Officer Green, it was apparent to see the hard work and devotion that is put into being an officer. Office Green left the office on the typical Wednesday morning planning on checking in on three adolescents. 


It takes time, patience, and commitment to be successful in this line of work. Time comes from the effort put into driving, meeting and working with the teen in their home. Another important factor, patience, comes from remaining composed when the juvenile either isn't home at the time of the probation officers visit, disobeys the outlined rules of behavior and any other factor that could jeopardize the probation period. Finally, commitment is one of the most important factors of probation officers. It takes commitment by probation officers like Officer Green to make the surveillance period successful and possible. Officers must be up-to-date on all paperwork concerning the case, the background of the teen, and most of all, the officer must check in depth and often on the teens. 

Officer  spends many hours a week devoted to the youth that he works with. Whether it be going directly to the teen for a visit or staying late for juvenile evening programs, he is truly committed to the well being of the kids.


if a probationer violates a probation officer has the difficult task of taking a youth into custody and taking them away from their families and depriving them of their “freedom”.  This task is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting on the probationer, their family, and the probation officer as well. 


Thank you to those like Officer Green who help make a positive yet structured and stern influence of juveniles on probation's life. People like this help kids get their lives on track now and can be successful and happy for the rest of their lives!

Friends Helping Friends

Wednesday at 10:00 AM June 22, 2011 the Cobb County Friendship Club held its semi-annual allocation ceremony. Club president Bill Shelton presented checks totaling $43,500 to 27 local charities. Reconnecting Families is fortunate enough to again be included as one of the recipients! Pictured above is Justin O'Dell accepting the grant on behalf of RF.

Back in December of 2010, Reconnecting Families received our first grant from the organization and since then has grown a strong and loyal relationship with the Friendship Club. This outstanding group has helped not only the RF non-profit organization, but also other groups like the Boys & Girls Club, Center for Family Resources, Cure Childhood Cancer, Meals on Wheels and the Special Olympics.

The Friendship Club is an organization of county government employees who give back to the community by donating a portion of each paycheck to assist charitable organizations and fellow employees. Since its inception in 1972, the club has donated more than $1.3 million to local charities and provided more than $250,000 to county employees who faced financial crises.

RF would also like to give a special thanks to this organization and Bill Shelton for their continued support and aid!

For more information about the Cobb County Friendship Club be sure to visit their Facebook page by clicking here!

Congratulations FDTC Class of 2011!

June 23rd, 2011 marked a momentous occasion in the lives of ten drug court participants. Six mothers and two mother and father families graduated from the Family Dependency Treatment Court Program. This graduation celebrated the sixth ceremony for the court program.


Graduates, family, friends, and staff members all attended the event yesterday evening to show their support of the successful completion of the program by the ten participants. Those in attendance were also excited for the honor of meeting and hearing Georgia's Governor Nathan Deal speak during the event.

Marietta First Baptist Church opened their doors and hosted the commencement ceremony in the chapel of the church. Graduating families were asked to come early to the church in order to meet and greet a special guest, the First Lady of Georgia, Mrs. Sandra Deal.  Guests then began arriving around 4:30 PM for the start of the ceremony.

Judge Juanita Stedman began the ceremony by warmly welcoming all of those who were in attendance. She recognized individuals who have had an impact on the program and the Cobb drug court.


First to be called for their completion certificate was Melanie. Melanie was unlike other graduates because she was the recipient of the first educational grant on behalf of Reconnecting Families, Inc. This grant will be an asset to Melanie as she finishes up her education at local Chattahoochee Tech.

When the Governor arrived, he gave a heart-warming and inspirational speech to those graduating and participants who are in the drug treatment program. He spoke about hope and success for those who have completed the program and after took photos with the graduates and their families.


Congratulations to Shirley, Cindy, Susan, Jessica, Misty, Harmony and Robert, Cristal and  Martin, and Melanie. These ten individuals have worked hard and will go far in life. We all hope them the best in their lives of sobriety and happiness!

After the ceremony, guests were invited to the fellowship hall of the church to enjoy chicken, sides, and a delicious cake.


A special thanks also goes out to those who had a large part in making this event a success. Success came from the donations, volunteers, and help by many people. Special thanks go to Dr. Bill Ross and the First Baptist Church of Marietta, Justin O'Dell, The Practice Sunday School and The Gary Bond's Sunday school, Marietta Kiwanis, First United Methodist Church of Marietta, First Presbyterian Church of Marietta and Carrie Kennedy.

Congratulations Graduates!

The Time Has Almost Come.. Graduation!

The time has finally arrived!

Tomorrow is the Family Drug Treatment Court program graduation! At 4:30PM tomorrow mothers who have completed all the programs and requirements for the court will be honored at the event.

Those who have made it to this stage have worked hard and us at Reconnecting Families and at the drug court are excited for this large celebration tomorrow.

Highlights for tomorrow that are planned for the graduation of the participants include a ceremony and a guest speaker from the governor, Nathan Deal. There will also be a meal provided by those who attend the First Baptist Church of Marietta at the event.

Those with RF, the court, and volunteers have been working on the graduation for weeks in order to ensure that all details have been covered and that everything for the graduation is a success! We are hoping for a large turn out in attendance in order to celebrate and support the graduates!

Check the blog on Friday, June 24 to see photos of the event and to read about how great the graduation went!

Keeping the Dream Alive

An article in Mililani, Hawaii news talks about how the county has really stepped up and given individuals with drug charges a second chance. Like many drug court programs, the court gives them access to intensive substance abuse treatment programs, as well as other services like employment assistance that should help them succeed in the community.

Wayne Ogasawara runs a farm in Mililani, and has hired three Drug Court participants in the past month in order to give drug offenders a second chance. Jobs include washing sweet potatoes and preparing them for market. It is the hope of the individuals who provided the job that those participating will get their lives back on track.

The court here in Mililani is like the Cobb County drug court. They are similar because in both qualified offenders are granted community supervision instead of incarceration. They each get a counselor for drug and alcohol issues, and a case manager for real-life challenges such as housing, employment and budgeting.

The goal of the Hawaii program is to have 100% employment for offenders in the program. Ogasawara hopes other businesses will consider getting involved with the Drug Court program.

A job is a step in the right direction when trying to get one's life back on track. Jobs like this provide an income and sense of dignity to all- but mean a lot to participants in this drug court.

To read more on this article, click here. 

People Making a Difference

Individuals working for the Cobb County drug court have come from cities all over the United States. Even though they may not all come from the same background, they all have come to the juvenile court for the same underlying reason, to help make a positive impact in a young teenagers life.

Diane Stanley is an individual that does just that at the Family Drug Treatment Court. Ms. Stanley is the Drug Court Coordinator of FDTC. Her duties, among many others at the court include: monitoring surveillance and drug screens, keeping up with sponsor contacts, meeting sheets, progress reports for participants and graduates, and many others.


She has been living in Marietta since 2005 when she moved here from Alabama. She started working at the Cobb County Juvenile Court in spring of 2006 as a surveillance officer and then was hired as a probation officer. She was then promoted in 2007 to a Probation Officer Specialist in Judge Stedman’s Juvenile Drug Court.

Then in February 2010, she was promoted to her current position as Drug Court Coordinator of FDTC.

Diane has had past experience as an adult probation office for the Philadelphia Adult Probation Department where she worked for nine years. The first four years she served in general supervision and the last five years she supervised Sex Offenders.

All of this past experience has led her to the multiple leadership roles and positive duties that influence participants.

Another important member of the team of probation officers at the court is Haley White.

Haley, originally from Illinois, is an officer that deals with parents and sometimes their children who are also in the FDTC. She moved from Illinois to Florida and then Georgia, where she went to college at the University of West Georgia and received a degree in criminology. After graduation she worked with DFACS for five years and worked with special education children and was a counselor to kids.

She has now been a parole officer for one year and finds the job to be fulfilling. There have been cases that have touched her, but overall she has hope for the kids she works with. She said that everyone makes mistakes and there is always hope for a better future for them if they get on the right path.

Both of these women have become great influences and important roles at the family drug court. They help to make the program a success! Thanks so much ladies for everything that you do!

Being Monitored in the Spotlight

Members of the staff at the Cobb County Juvenile Drug Treatment Court are important factors in the recovery process for those who are in the program. Whether it be the judge or a therapist, every person associated with the court and is a vital part in providing accountability and support to participants.


Children placed on probation, in most circumstances, will be supervised by a probation officer. Their main responsibility is to ensure that the client is following or abiding by the Court’s order. To accomplish this task officers become familiar with the family situation, school progress, and personal development of the child. 


Cobb County Juvenile Court’s probation unit provides a variety of options for the supervision of participants. Often an officer assigned to their participant's school district will monitor a child placed on probation. These officers develop working relationships with school officials, counselors, and teachers in an effort to provide the best possible environment for the child to be successful. Other options for supervision include the Gang Suppression Program, the Intensive Supervision Program, the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program, and the Sexual Offenders Caseload. Each of these caseloads or programs provides specialized treatment and rehabilitation for children with specific needs. 


Probation officers working for the court come from all backgrounds in life, but are usually there for the same reason and same fulfillment: to watch a participant achieve and maintain success in the program.

Albert Rodney and Jamey Greene are both members of the probation team at the courthouse. 


Albert is the Drug Court Coordinator. He has been with Cobb County for two and a half years. Originally from Miami, Florida, Albert went to Florida State where he majored in criminal justice. After graduating from college, Albert moved to Orlando, Florida and served as a police officer for 10 years. He left after being injured on the job and moved to Atlanta with his wife.


Albert oversees 7 probation officers. Albert said that the greatest factor in the fulfillment of his job is seeing change and the impact that this probation and process has on the juveniles.


Another member of the probation team is Jamey Greene. He was raised here in Marietta, Georgia and went to the University of Georgia where he studied criminal justice. For his internship, Jamey worked 40 hours a week at the Cobb Juvenile court and Reconnecting Families. During this time, Jamey was also a surveillance officer who watch and popped in on juveniles.

After graduating from UGA, Jamey joined the probation team in Cobb County. He said that the best part of his job is seeing the results and actually helping those who are in the program. This program allows juveniles to learn from their mistakes and hopefully not makes those same mistakes again.


These are just two of the many probation officers at the Cobb County Juvenile Courthouse. Without their job devotion, the recovery and accountability aspect of treatment and success would be a very difficult aspect for those in surveillance.


Thank you so much to our hard working probation team!

Celebrate the Gift of Sharing

In order to keep up the success of the participants in the program, Reconnecting Families is always accepting donations. Items needed can range from everyday kitchen items to baby supplies.

List of Needed Items:

New Kitchen items-

• Small appliances
• Dishes
• Glasses
• Utensils
• Cutlery
• Pans and Pots
• Dish towels
• Cleaning items (sponges, cleaners, paper towels, brooms, dust mops, laundry detergent, light bulbs, dish washing liquid)
• Child sipping cups
• Bibs
• Bowls
• Cups
• Storage containers
• Pot holders

New Bath Items:

• Towels
• Bath sets
• Bathroom tissue
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Deodorant
• Wash cloths
• Shaving cream/shaving razors
• Toothpaste

New Bed Linens:

• Sheet sets (crib, twin, full and queen)
• Pillows
• Blankets (twin sized and full sized)
• Comforters

New Miscellaneous Items:

• Batteries (all sizes)
• Toys
• Board games, cards, puzzles
• Children's books
• DVD's
• Diapers and Pull-Ups
• Car seats
• High chairs
• Baby Crib
• Microwaves
• Gift Cards (Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, gas cards)

Furniture:

• Beds
• Mattresses
• Bed frames
• Dressers
• Couches
• Tables and chairs

If you would like to make a donation to Reconnecting Families, please contact us by phone at (770) 528-2291 or email us at Reconnecting.Families@cobbcounty.org

Thank you so much for your support!

Shop Until You Drop.

Donations help make a difference.

Help and support come to Reconnecting Families from  people right here in Cobb County to people in other countries around the globe. Donations of everyday necessities like time, money, clothing, and household items help those who are in the Family Dependency Drug Court.

Our program is thankful to have this kind of support. With these contributions of clothing, shoes, and other things like toys, families in the program are able to look through these items and find anything that they need or want. 

This closet of articles is opened after Family Dependency Treatment Court for shopping. Volunteers like Gail help families to easily go through the large selection. Gail has been volunteering with Reconnecting Families for over two years and helps with the shopping closet during FDTC days. She arrives early and places them in neatly, organized places where all of the shopping items are out for program participants to look through.

Program participant, and soon graduate of the program, Cindy, thins that the closet is very beneficial. 

"The closet has been great for me," said Cindy. When Cindy entered treatment and residency she did not have much at all. That is when she was introduced to the closet and was able to get many things that she needed. She has received items like a baby bed, DVD player, and women's clothing.

Cindy found the road to recovery in fall of 2009. With the help of support, a team, and structure Cindy has since been clean of drugs and will be finishing the program a the end of June 2o11.  Congratulations! 

Thanks again Gail for all that you do!

Helping Hands Lead to Smiling Faces

In order to reach the highest level of success, no matter what one is trying to achieve in life, you have to have not only determination but also support. Determination can come from anywhere. Whether it be from friends, family, or assistance from a group of supporters.

Reconnecting Families receives a helping hand from multiple organizations around the metro area. The relationship that RF has with the Atlanta Mission continues to prosper thanks to the services and assistance that both groups provide for one another. 

The Atlanta Mission was established in 1938 and provides programs that are centered around Christ. The organization was originally established as a soup kitchen in the 30’s in order to feed homeless men. Today, the mission has expanded and now provides emergency shelter, residential discipleship, job attainment, and transitional housing to more than 950 homeless men, women and children daily.

Reconnecting Families works with the Atlanta Mission in order to provide those in need with the necessities of life. The Mission has donated items such as furniture and cribs to those who are in the RF program. In return, we have provided the mission with clothes, dry food, and personal hygiene products. Together, these non-profit organizations are allowing those in the different programs to get their lives back on track!

 

Program facilities for the Mission are located around Atlanta and the Mission also has thrift stores in many areas around north Georgia. To learn about these thrift store locations or to donate to this cause, click here to visit the Atlanta Mission website.

Together, Reconnecting Families and the Atlanta Mission are doing their parts in order to unite health families back together, provide housing and essentials to the homeless and those in hardship, and most importantly to allow those in need an opportunity for success.

Thank you so much to the men and women of the Atlanta Mission for their continued devotion and hard work!

Reconnecting With Others

Last week, team members from the Drug Treatment Court and Reconnecting Families attended a state wide drug conference at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Team members were offered different breakout sessions during each day of the three-day long event. Each session dealt with different aspects of the Drug Court and discussed how to improve different components of the drug court, new innovations and ways that different county systems operate.


Reconnecting Families along with members of the Cobb County Drug Court conducted a breakout session on Thursday, June 2. The session called, "How to Access and Use Free Community Resources," explained to audience members the mission, functions, and use of free resources that the program uses and how the program is able receive these donations and partnerships.

The presentation was given by the Reconnecting Families executive director, Brin Black, community volunteer- Carrie Kennedy, chairman of the board of directors- Justin O'Dell,  presiding Judge Juanita Stedman, and Mea Fagiola.


Mea Fagiola opened the conference with a warm introduction and welcome. She also explained to the audience the history of Cobb County Juvenile Drug Courts. 


Brin Black then outlined important factors and aspects of the RF program. She discussed the programs and services that RF offers. While discussing this, community member, Carrie Kennedy spoke about the Celebrating Families Program and how she volunteers her time to help make this program a success.


The session also demonstrated to attendees how the program uses community support and networking from aspects like churches, civic clubs, child care and food/supplies to create partnerships in the community. 


Chairman of the Board- Justin O'Dell then spoke on the support that RF receives from the faith based communities, civic clubs, and also the employment opportunities for those in the drug program.


To conclude the session, Judge Juanita Stedman spoke about her Reconnecting Families "dream team," and the success of the program. She also then talked to audience members and answered and questions they had about the program.


The goal of the session was to show other court systems from around the state the benefits of a program like RF and how it is a beneficial part of the Cobb County Drug Treatment Court.


Thanks to all of those who attended the session! If you have any further questions about the session or the RF program please feel free to leave a comment or email us at reconnecting.families@cobbcounty.org


Don't forget to "Like" Reconnecting Families on Facebook!!

Summer Fun Mean Summer Opportunities

Swimming, fishing, ping-pong, a zip line, and league games all sound like exciting and fun camp activities to any child. Then add on the idea of meeting and interacting with other children their age and making new friends; that is a recipe for a great time!

With funding and support from the First Methodist Church of Marietta, this is now going to be a summer of fun for children within the Reconnecting Families Program to enjoy.

Misty Harkins is a mother of three who was granted the opportunity through RF to send her children to a camp just like this. Misty’s children will be attending the Athens Y Camp in Tallulah Falls, Georgia.

“I am really honored that they are able to go. I am also excited that they will have the chance to do something during the summer!”

In October of 2009, Misty entered the RF program. Upon entering the program, the children were placed in foster care for a year and recently returned home in October of 2010.

“The children haven’t been home long, but the transition has been great!” This shift back into the home has been a success due to programs and activities that the family has participated in. The family has participated in programs including the recently completed Celebrating Families. This is a 16-week program that provides families with dinner and group meetings on Thursday nights. Misty said that one of the main benefits that her family received from the program was the ability to sit down, talk and eat together. The program showed her and her children how to be successful.

After hard work and dedication to her treatment, Misty has been sober for 17 months and enjoys the time and “normal” life that she and her children are now able to take part in. Accountability was the main aspect that Misty said she was missing from her life before treatment, but now it is something that occurs daily. Drug court has helped this accountability happen and in Misty’s opinion has been the best decision ever, she was able to get her children back. Misty says she now knows that there is such thing as a normal life! Congratulations Misty!

Thanks again to the First Methodist Church of Marietta for providing the opportunity to allow children like Misty’s children to participate in the Athens Y Camp!