By Chris Andrews/Bridge Magazine contributor

Felony Adult Drug Treatment Court Forum
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Michigan Hall of Justice
925 South Ottawa
Lansing, Michigan 48913
 
The Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals in cooperation with the Michigan Judicial Institute and the State Court Administrator’s Office is pleased to host a first of its kind forum specifically for team members of Felony Adult Drug Treatment Courts in the State of Michigan.
 
This forum is open to all Circuit and District Adult Drug Treatment Court programs that target felony offenders.
Any member of a Felony Adult Drug Treatment Court team is welcome to attend.
 
The forum is being held to collect information, exchange ideas, and identify issues and best practices specific to Felony Adult Drug Treatment Courts around the State of Michigan.  This forum will be facilitated and participatory in nature.  Lunch will be provided and the cost of parking will be covered.
 
To register, go to:  www.madcp.eventbrite.com/
 
Registration Window:
Registration closes May 31, 2012.
 
If you have any questions please contact:
Ann Filkins
269 383 6469
9th Circuit Court
227 West Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan  49007
aefilk@kalcounty.com

MADCP recognizes that it takes many good people to keep up the good work of drug courts.  That is why we choose to recognize "Michigan Drug Court Heroes" each year at our annual conference.  

We are again seeking names and stories of folks that you feel have contributed in a special way to the success of your sobriety, adult felony, juvenile, family dependency or veteran's court.  We hope to find and recognize an outstanding representative from each major role in the drug court team:  probation staff/case manager, defense counsel, prosecutor, judge, drug court administrator, treatment provider, police liaison, community volunteer and program graduate/alumni.

Please gather the following information, and forward it, along with an electronic photograph of the nominee, to Shelley Wright at Madcp.shelley@gmail.com by February 8, 2012. 

Nominators will be informed of the status of their nomination by mid February.  Alerting the recipient will be up to their discretion.  Awards will be announced at the MADCP conference on March 13-14, 2012.
_______________________

Name of nominee
Email address of nominee
Phone number of nominee
Role within the drug court
Number of years with your drug court

Name of nominator
Email address of nominator
Phone number of nominator
Role within the drug court

Court name, number and city
Type of specialty court
Number of years court has been in operation

The Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals 13th Annual Conference is now open for registration.

MADCP, in cooperation with the Michigan Judicial Institute (MJI), is pleased to host a two-day conference specifically designed to meet the educational needs of circuit, district, family and probate court judges, judicial branch staff, healthcare providers, treatment providers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement officers and administrators, probation/parole officers, community corrections staff, legislators and legislative staff and anyone who deals with drug and alcohol abuse. Whether or not your jurisdiction has a Drug Treatment Court, this conference will enhance your skills in dealing with the needs of substance abusing defendants/clients.

Every year, the conference provides the latest research and best practices for dealing with the substance abuse and mental health disorders of persons involved in the justice system. The 2012 conference will continue to offer the level of education you have come to expect, but with an added component we are calling “The Art of Recovery.”  Various sessions throughout the conference will present the most recent research on drug abuse and addiction, with illustrations and insights from artists, to show how art can compliment science in more fully understanding the human dimensions of addiction and the struggles of those so afflicted. The emerging role of art as a powerful force in fostering an environment and society more supportive of recovery will be presented by musicians, visual artists, dancers and actors, who are themselves in recovery.  Be sure to check the conference agenda for free performances going on throughout conference as well as workshops which will give you examples of activities that can be incorporated into your drug court program that will foster long-term recovery.

Your Representative to Congress is Crucial to Saving Drug Court Funding!

Your Representative needs to hear from you by MAY 20, 2011!

The U.S. House is constructing next year's budget, and each Member has a voice.

Fight to protect Federal Funding for drug courts by reminding your leaders how drug courts reduce crime, save money, serve veterans and produce productive citizens.

NADCP helps you compose send your letter electronically.

GO HERE to send a letter.

Contact Tonya Griesback at tgriesbach@nadcp.org if you have questions.