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Juvenile court program recertified by Supreme Court
Published: April 15, 2019
AKRON––Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio has announced that on March 27 the court received notification from the Ohio Supreme Court that its Family Reunification through Recovery Court (FRRC) has earned recertification as a specialized docket.
This is the second time that program has received recertification. The FRRC received its initial certification in August 2014. The Supreme Court’s 22-member Commission on Specialized Dockets chose the FRRC to undergo recertification. The Commission visited the court, reviewed program materials, and investigated whether the FRRC complied with certification standards.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor congratulated Judge Teodosio for the FRRC receiving final certification, which is effective through Dec. 31, 2021.
“Specialized dockets divert offenders toward criminal justice initiatives that employ tools and tailored services to treat and rehabilitate the offender so they can become productive members of society,” said Justice O’Connor. “Studies have shown that this approach works by reducing recidivism while saving tax dollars.”
Specialized dockets are courts that are dedicated to specific types of offenses or offenders and use a combination of different techniques for holding offenders accountable while also addressing the underlying causes of their behavior.
The FRRC was established in 2013, a product of a three year, $538,000 federal grant.
Representatives from juvenile court, Summit County Children Services (SCCS) and other community agencies received training to recognize individuals and families that can be referred to the FRRC.
A parent must be identified as having substance misuse issues and Children Services must have sought some level of supervision or custody.
The parent and family members are offered services once they are referred to the program with the goal of recovery for the parent and reunification of the family unit.
The success of the FRRC is grounded in the spirit of collaboration that exists between the Court, SCCS and the treatment/recovery support services provided by such agencies as Akron UMADAOP, the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADM) Board, the Community Health Center, Oriana House and Summit County Public Health.
Since its inception, the program has graduated 35 individuals and currently there are 14 people active in the FRRC.
In 2015, the FRRC and one of the participants who graduated from the program were honored by the Ohio Department of Youth Services with the Thomas J. Stickrath Re-entry Award.
“Obviously, I am very pleased that the program received re-certification,” said Judge Teodosio. “I look forward to the FRRC continuing its mission of helping people recover from their substance misuse issue and bringing families back together.”