BALSAM LAKE – On Friday, April 14, a crowd was gathered at the Polk County Treatment Court to celebrate the graduation of two individuals from the program, Anthony and Dustin. The courtroom was filled with the graduates and their family and friends, the treatment court team and other individuals currently going through the program. Smiles were ever-present, and the feelings of joy and accomplishment could not be overstated.
Both graduates had started the program without a job and struggled with addiction. However, at the end of their journey with the treatment court on Friday, both were employed, had completed intensive outpatient treatment and continuing care, logged 60 hours of community service and were embracing the joys of fatherhood.
Judge Daniel Tolan extended his congratulations before handing them their diplomas, praising their accomplishments and motivating those present who are on the path to graduation. “You should be very proud of how far you’ve come in your recovery,” said Tolan. “While they are graduating together, their roads to recovery have looked very different.”
Throughout his enrollment in the program, Anthony attended 53 treatment court status hearings, 190 support meetings, had 230 negative drug and alcohol tests and was 438 days sober in the program. Dustin attended 38 treatment court status hearings, 211 support meetings, had 191 negative drug and alcohol tests and was 224 days sober in the program.
The Polk County Treatment Court is a program of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The mission of the Polk County CJCC is to reduce crime and recidivism in Polk County through programming such as the treatment court, which aims to reduce the destructive cycle of substance use and mental health disorders.
“The program really provides an opportunity for participants to utilize tools and support services as they work through the program to develop skills to be successful in their recovery,” said Tolan. “Our participants often hear mentioning that the program is an opportunity to for them to change their lives, not just for themselves but, really, for their families and other people coming after them that deserve a chance at recovery and utilizing a program like this.”
