Established in 2024, the 11th Judicial District Recovery Court is a collaborative, problem-solving court designed to help people with non-violent drug-related issues. This program brings together multiple organizations across communities to help participants recover from substance use, build stability, and work toward a different future. “Unlike traditional court programs, Recovery Court brings judges, attorneys, probation officers, law enforcement, treatment professionals, and community organizations together to support participants. The team creates an individualized plan based on each person’s needs and circumstances, rather than a one-size-fits-all term of probation,” said Sarah A. Elnicki, J.D., CHC/SEK Deputy General Counsel and Director of Legal Services.
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is one of 14 partners who make the 11th Judicial District Recovery Court possible. CHC/SEK applies for and manages program grant funding and provides participants with support in areas including education, accountability, advocacy, emotional support, system navigation, transportation, housing, document recovery, and connection to community resources. The CHC/SEK Addiction Treatment Services team provides behavioral health support, CareVan staff provide transportation to and from court, and the Building Health, Inc. team helps coordinate and brainstorm housing solutions for participants.
The core CHC/SEK Recovery Court team includes Sarah Elnicki, Deputy General Counsel and Director of Legal Services; Bryan Dyson, Recovery Court Coordinator; and two Community Health Workers, Shaylene Sumners and Thalia Taylor. Because of their different backgrounds and work experiences, each team member brings a unique perspective to the program. Sarah’s legal background includes defense and child in need of care. Bryan previously worked in law enforcement as a corrections officer and a part-time police officer. Shaylene and Thalia have both worked in the addictions field. Shaylene is a licensed Community Health Worker and Peer Mentor, and Thalia is working towards earning both licenses. Together, the team supports participants throughout the Recovery Court process.
“Participants are carefully screened before entry, and once accepted, they take part in a closely supervised treatment program built into their probation terms,” said Elnicki. “This is a proactive, rehabilitative model that combines substance use treatment, counseling, and wraparound support such as job training, education, and access to healthcare. At the same time, the team works to identify the barriers, past and present, that have prevented the person from succeeding and helps them address those barriers head-on as part of their recovery.”
For Recovery Court participants, the journey can last up to a year and a half or longer. The process includes frequent check-ins and drug testing, court appearances, and regular appointments. Program participants work through five different phases, gaining important skills along the way so they can live a life without substance use and crime. The program helps participants continue their education, build meaningful careers, improve family stability, and find housing.
All participants are asked to do three things at the beginning of the program: show up, be honest, and try. “Early on, we ask them to meet with a treatment provider and establish a treatment plan. They also develop a case plan with their supervision officer,” said Dyson. “During the first few months, the team repeatedly reviews the program rules with the client, including curfews and random drug screenings. The program is built around trust. Early in the program, participants are not ‘punished’ for failing to meet all our expectations. As long as they are putting in effort, participants are praised for simply showing up and are encouraged to keep trying.”
As participants progress, expectations increase. They must complete two cognitive behavioral classes, find and maintain safe and stable housing, participate in a vocational needs assessment, and find legitimate employment.
Succeeding in the program requires dedication and persistence. “These participants work extremely hard to accomplish all the things we ask of them. It’s not a simple task to show up to a court and learn to trust a system that they have only ever had negative interactions with,” said Dyson. “A wise person once told me, ‘All we are asking them to change is everything about their life.’ It seems like such a simple thing to just stop using substances or committing crimes. But, when the only life you have ever known includes substances and criminal behavior, it can seem easier to continue doing what is familiar.”
For many participants, trusting the process can be difficult at first. “It usually takes several court sessions for the participants to begin trusting the program and the team. We see the struggle at every court session as participants attempt to leave their old life behind and allow our team to show them a new way of doing everything,” said Dyson. “By the time our participants graduate, it can be hard to remember the person they were when they first entered the program, because of how much they have changed.”
Several staff members said that transformation is their favorite part. “I asked three different people about the most rewarding part and all of them gave very similar answers: the moment the light comes on and change begins to happen,” said Dyson. “There is a noticeable, physical change that happens to a person when they finally get it. The person usually starts carrying themselves a little taller. They tend to look people in the eyes when they are having a conversation. They usually start to open up more with the team and begin taking responsibility for their actions. Seeing that change is the best part of this type of work.”
To graduate, participants must complete all program requirements, including attending appointments, court sessions, testing, and meetings. They also must remain in safe housing, have a full-time job, and have accomplished at least 90 days of abstinence from substances.
“Once the participant is ready, they must apply to graduate and provide two letters of support, one of which must come from a Recovery Court team member. Once all these requirements have been met, the Judge accepts their application, and they are set for graduation,” said Dyson.
During the graduation ceremony, each participant gives a speech, sharing their story and journey to recovery. Then, the Judge signs an expungement order that removes the felony conviction that sent the participant into the program.
For these participants, graduation may be the end of the program, but it’s also the beginning of their next chapter. “Several participants have purchased new vehicles, and a couple have purchased new homes. Some parents have regained custody of their children. We have seen several family members attend graduation after having had no contact with the participant for long periods of time,” said Dyson. “The best part is seeing graduates keep striving for more, once they realize they can achieve their goals.”
Looking to the future, the team hopes to continue to grow the program to accommodate more participants. The team also plans to create a Recovery Court alumni group. “This program would provide past graduates with a way to continue to support each other and current participants,” said Dyson. “We’d also like to give graduates the opportunity to help make decisions about the future of our Recovery Court program.”