The Family Treatment Court will hold the first graduation ceremony in its program to assist mothers to overcome drug addiction in a residential setting where they live with their children. The graduating women have completed a 6-month comprehensive program in which they not only received drug treatment, but also learned about healthful lifestyles for themselves and their children. Because the children have lived in the treatment facility with their mothers, the families are able to avoid 'family reunification' concerns that can occur when children are put in temporary care situations. In addition, the youngest children have been in an educational day care program and the older children attended their regular school during the daytime hours while their mothers were in treatment sessions.  

WHAT: Family Treatment Court graduation  

WHERE: Nineteenth Street Baptist Church  4606 16th Street, NW  

WHEN: Friday, December 12 at 10 am  

WHO: Deputy Mayor Carolyn Graham - graduation speaker; The Honorable Lee F. Satterfield; Presiding Judge of Family Court; The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring; Family Court Deputy Presiding Judge and Family Treatment Court Judge