STELLAR SUCCESS
June 2006 • Harris County Drug Court Program • Volume 1 • Issue 3
STAR welcomes guests both near and far
On Thursday March 23rd, the
STAR court hosted a very
special group of guests from
the national program
Ready4Work. STAR partner
Moving Forward offers
Ready4Work to STAR clients
and other ex-offenders.
The Ready4Work goal is to
bring together justice,
government, business, faith,
and community sectors to
deliver employment and other
services to individuals reentering society. The program
is an initiative of Public/Private
Ventures, a national nonprofit
organization seeking to
improve the effectiveness of
social policies, programs, and
community initiatives.
Ready4Work held its Third
Annual Conference and
Workshop in Houston, and
both Moving Forward and the
STAR court were pleased to
host delegates from various
States and the United
Kingdom. All delegates sought
to understand how to structure
programs that would reduce
A British participant of the Ready4Work
Conference presents her 25-years of sobriety
story to the STAR clients.
reoffending through learning
various skills and gaining
employment.
Ms. Earlene Drayden of
Moving Forward helped
organize the visit to the STAR
court during the delegates’
busy visitation schedule. The
guests attended Judge
Thomas’s STAR II docket.
The Ready4Work
Conference supports practical,
interactive, and participatory
opportunities for both the
delegates and the programs
they visit. STAR Program
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Manager Mary Covington
and Judge Cosper explained
the purpose of drug courts
and the successes of the
STAR court.
The STAR court clients
welcomed their guests, and
several delegates spoke to the
court, telling life stories and
reminding clients to make
good decisions. STAR
clients learned that
geography and distance have
no effect on addiction, but
any effort, near or far,
encourages recovery.
After the delegates observed
the court proceedings, Ms.
Covington answered
questions
about the STAR program’s
eligibility criteria, phase
requirements, drug testing
procedures, judicial
supervision, and graduate
population. In turn, the
STAR court learned about
probation and ex-offender
programs in England and
Scotland. STAR thanks all
those who participated in this
event.
Stellar Program: The Women’s Home
For almost fifty years, The
Women’s Home has served
numerous women in the
Houston area suffering from
substance abuse, mental illness,
and family abuse in need of
long-term residential and
vocational care.
The STAR program has
several women at The
Women’s Home, all of whom
applied individually to receive
the intensive care that this
facility has to offer.
The Women’s Home
provides several types of
services to its clients. There is
a maximum of 55 women in
the facility, and all must live on
the facility. The average length
of stay is 10-18 months.
Psychiatric and nurse
practitioner services,
psychotherapy, chemical
dependency services and
vocational and spiritual
development programs are
other benefits of The Women’s
Home.
The Women’s Home wishes
for every client to regain their
self-esteem, dignity, and
empowerment as a member of
society. Women in the
program participate in job and
life skills training, stress
management, positive selfdevelopment workshops, and
other classes presented by
volunteers and staff.
In addition to the vocational
curriculum, The Women’s
Home offers spiritual
development through
counseling and holistic care.
Clinical services, including
chemical dependency and
therapy groups, are also
available through the Baylor
College of Medicine.
The most unique aspect of
Program is the Cottage Thrift
Shop. All clients work and
train in the shop, learning
The program goal is
for every client to regain
their self-esteem, dignity,
and empowerment as a
member of society.
practical business knowledge
and skills. The shop accepts
personal and business
contributions at its 811
Westheimer location.
If you would like to learn
more about The Women’s
Home, make a donation, or
volunteer, please visit
www.thewomenshome.org
for more information.
STAR Court Announcements
STAR Program’s
Summer Graduations
This summer we will graduate
several deserving members of
our STAR program. Please
join us on Thursday May 25th
in the Ceremonial Courtroom
and Monday June 5th in the
STAR Courtroom at 3 pm to
celebrate the achievements of
our clients’ stellar success.
Alumni Bowling Night
Mentoring Program
The STAR Alumni will have
their second Bowling Night
during their regular June
meeting. Usually, the Houston
Council for Drug and Alcohol
Abuse hosts the Alumni
meetings. The Alumni
recognize the importance of
positive and sober social
activities, and will use
their monthly meetings as time
to celebrate their recovery.
STAR graduate and Alumni
member Ryan C. has created
a mentoring program for
STAR Alumni and current
clients. Ryan collaborated
with STAR treatment
provider Pathway to
Recovery to develop the
program, which will debut
this summer.
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STAR Court Announcements
STAR Program’s
School Supplies Drive
As summer begins, we ask
that you help the STAR
program in gathering supplies
for the next school year. All
supplies are donated to the
children of STAR clients and
Alumni. Suggested items are
manila and construction
paper, facial tissues, and
pencils. All items are greatly
appreciated. Please contact
Mary Covington to make
donations.
NADCP Conference
This summer several members
of the STAR team will attend
the National Association of
Drug Court Professionals
Training Conference. Among
the attendees will be Mary
Covington, Judge Caprice
Cosper, Judge Brock Thomas,
Judge Mike Wilkinson, and
Assistant District Attorneys
Hans Nielsen and Katherine
Cabaniss. The Conference will
include focused tracks on
“Using Culture to Strengthen
your Program,” “Incentives
and Sanctions: More Than
Jail Time and Coupons,” and
“Caring for the Caregivers.”
The STAR Drug Court team
attends conferences as often
as possible to update their
training and increase their
knowledge about the
expanding Drug Court
concept.
Acknowledgements—A Message of Thanks
I want to thank personally all
of our STAR Partners and their
continuing efforts that make
our program possible.
A special thanks to the
following:
The City of Houston for its
$2500 donation through the
Demand Treatment Grant.
This support allows our
growing program to help more
clients receive the intensive
treatment they need.
Ray Andrews with Houston
Crackdown for his continued
support and dedication to the
drug court mission.
GiGi Lewis of Club
Etiquette for giving a
presentation on business
etiquette. We routinely quiz
our clients about the rules
they learned, and we expect
them to use these valuable
tools.
The Texas Sunset
Commission and TDCJCJAD for attending court
sessions and their continued
support.
STAR Alumni Ryan C.,
Kathryn G. Jeana B., and
Julie B. who exemplify the
contributing community
members that we hope all
STAR clients will become.
Thank you again, and
have a spectacular summer.
Mary Covington
STAR Program Manager
STAR Drug Court Program
1201 Franklin, 14th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
For more information, please contact
Mary Covington at 713-755-4610
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