Pubdate: Sat, 07 Feb 2004
Source: Salisbury Post (NC)
Copyright: 2004 Post Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.salisburypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/380
Author: Steve Huffman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)

ESCAPING A WORLD OF TROUBLE

Drug Court Graduation Ceremony Marks Return From The Brink For Teen

Michelle Foose is the first to admit that a couple of years ago, she was in 
a world of trouble.

Just 15 at the time, Foose was already dabbling with marijuana and alcohol, 
and abusing prescription medications.

Before long, Foose was expelled from South Rowan High School and, after 
running away from home, found herself involved with juvenile court authorities.

"I was a mess," Foose said.

But her life has improved considerably in recent years.

On Friday, Foose, who is now 17, graduated from Rowan County's Juvenile 
Drug Treatment Court. The graduation was the sixth involving teenagers in 
the program, which is considered a trendsetter in the state.

Court officials said they'd never seen a graduate improve as quickly as Foose.

"I love you, Michelle," said Navonne Moore, a social worker from Samarkane, 
a training school in Eagle Springs where Foose lived for a year as part of 
her program.

"I love you, too," Foose replied.

The two then hugged, one of many hugs that Foose shared Friday with those 
she credited with helping get her life back on track.

"Out of all the kids we've had in the program, you've progressed the 
farthest," said Earle Koontz, an attorney who has been involved with the 
Juvenile Drug Treatment Court since its inception. "You've got a bright 
future. I, for one, am extremely proud of you."

"Thank you for being such a good example to our new participants," Becca 
Stamp, coordinator of the Juvenile Drug Treatment Coordinator, told Foose. 
"I'm excited about the educational opportunities you've decided to pursue."

There was a twist to Friday's graduation not seen in previous ones. Chief 
District Court Judge Charlie Brown, who officiates the Juvenile Drug 
Treatment Court, was injured last week in a bicycling accident and is still 
recuperating at home.

Though he couldn't be there in person, Brown made sure Friday's graduation 
continued as planned. A videotape of Brown -- seated at home with his left 
arm in a sling -- was played.

"My inability to attend won't delay the drug court from recognizing 
Michelle's hard work," Brown said on the tape. "The whole is greater than 
the parts."

Like the other court officials, Brown told Foose that she'd made tremendous 
strides since entering the program 21 months ago.

"You're no longer 15 years old with high needs," Brown told Foose. "You now 
have tools. The key is to draw on those tools. I'm proud of you."

Brown said that among Foose's accomplishments over the past two years are:

n Completion of her high school General Equivalency Diploma;

n Being named recipient of a scholarship to attend Rowan-Cabarrus Community 
College and;

n Enrollment in the school.

"You're a lovable girl, Michelle," said Krista Hiatt, a juvenile court 
counselor. "You've got a lot of potential."

Foose admitted she was somewhat overwhelmed by the attention she received 
Friday. "You're going to make me cry," she said at one point.

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court is held every other week on designated 
Mondays and Fridays. Participants are picked by Hiatt from case files. To 
be selected for the program, juveniles must be previously convicted in 
juvenile court and be between 12 and 15 years of age.

Most court officials donate their time to the program.

Foose said now that she's got her life back on track, she plans to one day 
work with troubled youth such as she once was.

She's pursuing a degree in criminology from Rowan-Cabarrus Community 
College and said she hopes to eventually work as a juvenile court counselor.

Foose said she thinks her own experiences will help her work with troubled 
youth.

"I want to talk to them before they get as deep as I was," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman