Transcript LOCAL EVENTS

HOW TO BUILD A
SUCCESSFUL
DRUG COURT MONTH
Kentucky’s Administrative Office of the Courts
Department of Statewide Services
Connie M. Payne
Executive Officer
Tina Messer
Regional Specialist
HOW KENTUCKY HAS CELEBRATED
DRUG COURT MONTH
• Graduations
• Proclamations
• Educational activities
• Community events
• Community service projects
1st Steps…
• Review the NADCP Drug Court Month kit
• Boil it down even more -- make it easy:
Email theme, national grad. date; time frame;
email grad. roll call & photo release forms
separately
• Develop a committee – local or statewide
1st Steps…
• For statewide activities – choose point
person to coordinate; talk with local for
ideas/thoughts on a project & how to get
the word out to staff & teams
•As time goes on, send reminder email to
document & send in all newspaper articles/
photos
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
What project/event?
• what is the purpose of the project
• what message do you want to get out
• how will it benefit participants &
community
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Date:
• determine which dignitaries you “must”
have in attendance (legislators; judges;
local leaders)
• check their calendars before selecting a
date
• local events/dates you can partner with?
• local events/dates to avoid?
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Location:
• what are the needs of the event
• where will you get maximum
participation/attendance
• anyone who can donate or reserve
the space for free?
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Think:
• what will make the event flow
smoothly, make guests feel welcome,
get the message out, educate, etc.
• is the event mandatory for DC
participants
• who is assigned what task
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Who can do the work:
• Participants – Phase 3 or aftercare
can develop plans/event from the idea
through implementation
• Team
• Community organizations
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Timeline - set out a timeline or time-task
plan
Invitations – reach out to members of
Congress, local leaders, legislators to
attend, kick off or conclude the event
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Alert the press:
• contact newspapers, TV (including local
access channels), radio, neighborhood
magazines
• inform media which dignitaries are
attending
• inform media of purpose of event
• send media some basic information/
background regarding Drug Court
LOCAL EVENTS: 1st steps
Documenting the event:
• determine who will take photographs,
copy/find links of media coverage
• determine who will submit info to
NADCP
Preserving the event:
• create a scrapbook so all can see how
much & how often DC participants give
back
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(4-6 month planning)
Health fair:
• Purpose – focus participants & families on
physical health; educate the health-care
community & community about DC
• Attendees - invite public; AVOL; Health
Dept. (immunizations/HIV tests);
nutritionists; dentists; hospitals; etc.
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(4-6 month planning)
Resource Fair:
• Purpose – One-stop shopping for
participants and public. People can apply for
social services such as food stamps, SSI,
veterans services, housing, etc…
• Attendees - invite community coalitions,
social services agencies, public, DC
participants
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(4-6 month planning)
Job Fair:
• Purpose – Provide opportunities for
employers to meet potential employees and
vice versa
• Attendees – Invite potential and current
employers, career development agencies,
resume writers, vocational rehabilitation,
public, DC participants
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(less than 3 months planning)
Volunteer projects/give backs:
• Purpose – give back to the community; educate
the community that addicts are not bad people
• Getting started – contact the County Judge
Executive or Mayor to learn of volunteer projects
•Examples – recycling facilities; park clean-up after
ball games/events
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(less than 3 months planning)
Sponsor appreciation dinner:
• Purpose - show appreciation for all sponsors do
• Getting started - set date & location; participants
take over planning and development
Participant picnic:
• Purpose – sober fun event for the family
• Getting started – invite leaders, team members,
dignitaries, community partners
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(less than 3 months planning)
Recovery walks:
• Purpose – educate the community about addiction
and Drug Court; promote a clean, healthy lifestyle
• Getting started – set date & location; invite
community leaders, other groups (partner with an
existing walk?)
•Examples – Race for Recovery; partner with Relay
for Life, Kosairs Children’s Hospital
SPECIFIC EVENTS
(less than 3 months planning)
Sporting events:
• Purpose – demonstrate sober, healthy way to have
fun
• Getting started – set date & location; invite local
legal community
•Examples – basketball, volleyball, softball games/
tournaments
INTERNAL EVENTS
Participant stories:
• Purpose – help show participants where they were & where
they are now
• Excellent material to make into a booklet for legislators,
community leaders
Artwork:
• Purpose – cathartic for the participant. Showcases the
recovering person’s perspective of addiction.
INTERNAL EVENTS
Memory chain:
• Purpose – help remind participants of why and/or how they
remain in recovery
• Photos attached to construction chain
• Excellent visual impact – addiction is larger than just the
participant
Book of letters:
• Purpose – therapeutic exercise for the author. It serves as a
message of hope and inspiration to others.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS
Disposal of Prescription Drugs:
• Coordinate with local law enforcement
Speak-Outs:
• Similar to domestic violence “Take Back the Night”
rallies – speaking out against drug use
• Invite legislators, community groups, judges
• Candlelight vigil for all who have been lost to
addiction (death, jail, still using)
BOTTOM LINE
• Plan
• Invite Congress members, legislators,
community leaders
• Alert the press
• Document, regardless of size of the event
• Preserve documentation
CONTACT INFORMATION
Connie M. Payne
Executive Officer, Statewide Services
502-573-2350
[email protected]
Tina Messer
Regional Specialist
Statewide Services, Division of Drug Court
606-627-8236
[email protected]