6th Circuit Court
Oakland County

Family-Focused Juvenile Drug Court
OPTIONS

The mission of Options: Family Focused Juvenile Drug Court program is to promote public safety by reducing juvenile criminal recidivism, assisting substance abusing juvenile offenders and their families achieve drug-free lifestyles and supporting families as they formulate healthy relationships. In addition to the JDC jurists, Judge Edward Sosnick and referee Marty Alvin, and our defense and prosecuting attorneys, the JDC team includes a full-time coordinator, two full-time probation officers, a part-time data entry clerk and a part-time client transporter. Since implementation in June 2001, the Options program has served 116 families and graduated 49 participants. In collaboration with Oakland Family Services, JEC Counseling, the Office of Substance Abuse Services, Easter Seals, Job Link and other agencies, Options has designed a unique program that identifies the needs of children and families, and implements individualized, strength-based treatment plans to address issues.

In an ongoing effort to provide resources to participants and families, the JDC program collaborates with a plethora of community organizations to provide tutorial services, recreational events and family activities. In addition to treatment, the Options team engages families in recreation and leisure activities. Every summer, participants and families are invited to participate in a day of personal and team challenges at the crossroads for youth adventure center. In December 2005, parents and children attended a day of recreation hosted by the B everly Hills Club, where they participated in basketball games and swimming, and enjoyed refreshments. Options has become a benchmark for other juvenile drug court programs as recognized by the state, and was selected as the only juvenile drug court to participate in the state-wide management information system pilot project. In May 2005, Options launched an alumni speakers bureau and parent mentor association, which assists in maintaining contact with youth and families after graduation.