Completed data collection with Georgia State University (GSU) evaluator for GBI recidivism study. (January 2012)
• Maintained fellowship/training rotation with Emory University School of Medicine, Addiction Psychiatry Program.
• Completed work with GSU student on Discovery Project, a mixed photography and audio exhibit to raise community awareness about drug courts and recovery and treatment. The project also addresses stigmas about offenders through intimate, nonconventional format. (March 2012)
• Discovery Project Press Release
• Discovery Project: Drug Court Participants Speak About Recovery
• The Discovery Project at Starbucks
• Recipient of a 2012 Decatur Rotary Club Community Grant for, The Literacy Project. A project targeted towards improving literacy and increasing interest in reading among our high-risk youth population (children of recovering addicts). (June 2012 – May 2013)
• Literacy Project Press Release
• Champion Newspaper – Drug Court Book Club
• Photo Gallery
• Expanded DCDC Social Recovery Initiative (SRI), a program to engage participants in outreach activities and reconnect them with the community. Supervised interns from Kennesaw State University, holding 15 community events, including cooking for and feeding the homeless in downtown Atlanta, and supporting Decatur Cooperative Ministries (nonprofit) with a renovation project. (October 2011 to March 2012)
• Maintained DCDC Job Club, a program that builds participant job search skills through CBT-styled lessons and presentations by local employers and volunteers, began a partnership with Microsoft Store at Lenox Mall. The Microsoft Store hosted several sessions for DCDC participants on resume development technology.
• Placed two GSU, Criminal Justice Department Interns with the District Attorney’s Office and Office of the Public Defender to enhance referral and screening process. (December 2011)
• Completed GSU, School of Social Work intern project to develop a systematic incentives matrix. Approach is in keeping with behavioral modification principles and targets participant behaviors and outcomes. Pilot is underway. (September 2011 to March 2012)
• DCDC participants provided 300 hours of volunteer and community service to DeKalb Animal Shelter in an effort to improve conditions for animals. (February to July 2012)
• DeKalb Animal Services Project
• Flyer
• Co-authored Treatment Standards draft for Judicial Council of Georgia’s, Standing Committee on Accountability Courts and presented them at the statewide conference. (February 2012/June 2012)
• DCDC provided leadership for homeless initiative with DeKalb Community Development and DeKalb Police Department. Initiative is increasing coordination and screening resources for DeKalb court system to identify and refer homeless defendants to community-based resources. (October 2011 – present)
• Coordinated fundraiser and gift drive to provide 91 children of DCDC participants with gifts over the holidays. In most cases, volunteers shopped for and wrapped gifts.
• Continued to roll out special project with District Attorney and Police to fast track DCDC referrals directly from police officers in two communities with intensive drug and crime problems.
• Volunteered for the City of Decatur to volunteer for their 2012 MLK Service Project. (January 2012)
• MLK Service Project Press Release