Anthony & DeShawna:
A Drug Court and Reclaiming Futures Success Story
Anthony was 14 years old when he became involved with Montgomery Juvenile Court. He had failed ninth grade three times, was involved in delinquent behavior, and was associating with a negative peer group. His charges included Truancy and Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle. Anthony was placed under Traditional Probation Supervision and showed little improvement. He continued to miss school and began to test positive for marijuana at high levels. While under Probation Supervision, Anthony was placed in the juvenile detention center on three occasions, and spent 30 days in a non-secure residential facility.
Anthony’s home life only added to his problems. His father was incarcerated for a long period of time and his mother began to abuse alcohol and drugs. After Anthony’s mother received a DUI and went to jail briefly, she lost her job, all of the family’s belongings, and was evicted from their home.
At this point, Anthony was placed into the Drug Court Program to receive intense Case Management services. With the help of the local Children Services Board, Anthony was placed into a foster home with friends of his family, and his younger brother was placed out of state with a relative. Anthony was unhappy about being separated from his brother. In addition, Anthony was assigned a Natural Helper from the community.
Immediately following his transition to a new home and to the Drug Court Program, Anthony began to show definite signs of improvement.
- He met with his Drug Court Case Manager weekly and appeared before the Drug Court Judge monthly to review his progress and to receive encouragement.
- Anthony began attending a new school and made efforts to complete his schoolwork.
- He attended Alcohol and other Drug education classes and abstained from drugs.
- Anthony made sober friendships and began to participate in pro-social events with his Natural Helper. Anthony and his Natural Helper attended a Harlem Globe Trotters basketball game, talked on the telephone, went out to dinner, and went to see the movie “Coach Carter”.
In six months, Anthony was ready to graduate from the Drug Court Program. Thanks to a complete circle of caring, Anthony was not lost to the system, but was supported by circle of dedicated individuals:
- Drug Court Judge
- Drug Court Case Manager
- Drug Court Specialist
- Foster parents
- Natural Helper, Community Volunteer
It’s hard to imagine describing Anthony as the “ideal kid,” but that is exactly how his former Drug Court Case Manager depicts him. The Case Manager states “Anthony was always a good kid at heart, one of the best.”
His Natural Helper, a female community volunteer named DeShawna, says “I’m not sure I did anything to help Anthony. He was a good kid at heart. I’m sure when I talked he listened and when he talked, I know I listened. I guess that was the best part.”
His foster parent describes the Natural Helping Program as “a big help.” She says Anthony’s Natural Helper was “someone away from it all who Anthony could talk to.”
Currently, Anthony has been reunited with his brother and his living with relatives. He is in school, and has remained drug free. Anthony realizes he has choices and that he has to be prepared to face consequences. He feels good about his life now, and is proud of all that he has accomplished.