Liz Cole:Spotlight

The next Chairperson of the Board of Directors will be Liz Cole and we could not be more thrilled! Liz works for the Marietta Housing Authority as the Mentoring Program Coordinator. She is extremely involved in the community and we excited to start a new chapter with Liz. 

Justin O'Dell Spotlight

Reconnecting Families Chairman of the Board of Directors, Justin O'Dell, is running for public office. Justin is such a crucial part of Reconnecting Families and we are very proud of his accomplishments. Justin has been involved with Reconnecting Families from the very beginning. He is also very active with the Marietta Kiwanis Club. Justin has become ingrained in the local community through civic and nonprofit service. 

Justin is running in the Democratic Primary for Georgia State House District 41. Voting will take place on July 31st. We wish Justin the best of luck and the best in all of his future political endeavors. 

Justin O'dell and Family

Justin and son (Henry)

We would also like to remind everyone to go out and vote!

Reconnecting Families Summer Newsletter

The Reconnecting Families summer newsletter has officially been sent out! Please check your emails when you get a chance to get the latest update on Reconnecting Families. 

Below are previews from the newsletter!

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If you have any questions or donations please email us at: reconnecting.families@cobbcounty.org

NADCP: Drug Court News

Gov. Christie to sign bill that gives non-violent drug offenders rehab, not jail time

Gov. Chris Christie is set to sign a bill changing the way New Jersey's criminal justice system deals with drug users.

The governor will sign the bill this morning at the Rescue Mission in Trenton.

The legislation expands eligibility for the state's drug court program and mandates that nonviolent, drug-dependent offenders receive treatment rather than prison time. It phases in a statewide program over a five-year period, beginning with at least three counties in the first year.

The Legislature and the governor will receive yearly reports on the program, including completion and revocation rates, recidivism rates and costs.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor, has spoken in favor of treatment rather than prison time for drug addicts.

http://www.nadcp.org/nadcp-home/

Graduation Guest Speaker: Carol W. Hunstein

There will be a Drug Court graduation on August 16th at 5:00pm located at First Baptist Church. We are so excited for this event and we are thrilled to celebrate the progress of  the young women in Drug Court. Another exciting component of this graduation will be our guest speaker. We are proud to announce Chief Jusitice Carol Hunstein will be speaking at this event.

Chief Justice Hunstein was appointed to the Supreme Court in November 1992 by then Governor Zell Miller and she is the second woman in history to serve as a permanent member of the Court. Prior to serving on the bench, Justice Hunstein was in private practice and she received her Juris Doctor  from Stetson University College of Law. She has received many honors in the course of her career and is the former chair of the Georgia Commission on Access and Fairness.

We look forward to what Justice Hunstein has to say and we know this event will be a huge success!

Donations Needed

An unfortunate reality for most Drug Court participants is that they are starting over with nothing.  For this reason, it is crucial that Reconnecting Families find items that are essential to the success of these mothers and their children.

We are always in need of beds and mattresses of all sizes. 

Cribs are also essential.

Basic living room furniture

Clothing Essentials

-Children's clothing

-Women's clothing

Bath Essentials

-Towels

-Shampoo

-deodorant

-toothpaste

-toothbrush

-bathroom tissue

Bed Essentials

-sheet sets (crib, twin, full, and queen)

-pillows 

-blankets

-comforters 

Miscellaneous

-batteries

-diapers

-pull ups

-car seats

-high chairs

-toys, board games

-microwaves

-gift cards (Walmart, Kroger, Target, CVS, Gas cards) 

If you would like to make a donation to RF please contact us at reconnecting.families@cobbcounty.org

We can set up pick up or drop off times. 

Thank you for all of your amazing support!! Also, thank you to friends of Reconnecting Families for all of your previous donations!

New Reconnecting Families Video Shoot!

We are proud to announce that on Thursday July 12th we shot footage for a new Reconnecting Families video! Currently, we are patiently waiting to see all of footage and we are excited to see the end product.

This video would not be possible without a great support system and volunteers. Thanks to the help of the Reconnecting Families board, Judge Stedman, Drug Court participants, and other volunteers this video is sure to be a success. 

Please look out for the video sometime next month and we look forward to your feedback!

All Rise & Act: NADCP

On May 31st, during the Opening Ceremony of the NADCP (National Association of Drug Court Professionals) 18th Annual Training Conference in Tennessee, 4,300 attendees saw the premier of this video. Watch this YouTube video created by the NADCP to gain national attention for Drug Court. Drug Court really does work!

Black, Brin

From: National Association of Drug Court Professionals [mailto:nadcp-info@nadcp.org] Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 10:47 AM To: Black, Brin Subject: Watch the Must See Recovery Video of 2012! Watch the All Rise America! Video Everyone is Talking About On May

6/21/2012