Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY – “The best is yet to come,” the graduation ceremony announcement for the Montgomery County Behavioral Health Treatment Court read, and for one recent graduate, he is on his way to making that happen.
On Feb. 22, family, friends, and a lot of community supporters through the Montgomery County Judicial System gathered in support of a well-deserved ceremony held for Josh*, a recent graduate from the program.
Judge Gino W. Williams opened the ceremony with a few brief words and then introduced the graduate. Josh was then presented with his completion certificate and a signed card of congratulations from program coordinators, Behavioral Health Docket (BHD) Case Manager Adam Cox and Molly Everett, BHD Coordinator through New River Valley Community Services.
“We started the docket in April of 2021, and this is our second graduation, so he is our fifth graduate from the program,” Everett said. “I think it is really powerful to participants here right now who are about to graduate all the way to just beginning the program. It is really powerful for them to watch stuff like this, where they see the community really does support you and wants to see you heal as badly as we say they do. It’s really good to have this social time to celebrate the hard work they’ve put in, in the past year.”
Everett said it is great also for Josh to share in the hard work he has done to get here.
“The work he has put in on himself, the time and effort to make some real scary life changes,” Everett said. “Just so admirable, really incredible. He is wonderful and we hope he will consider a future career in helping people, he has the skills.”
According to information shared by Montgomery County’s media advisory team, “The goal of the BHD is to connect participants with community resources to help address their mental health needs. Participants are encouraged to reach out to their support system when they experience a crisis. Our community benefits due to a reduction in emergency service calls, emergency room visits and criminal charges. The program is voluntary. The program is offered as an alternative to a conviction for a misdemeanor criminal charge or for a suspension or reduction of active jail time. Participants are on probation, subject to drug screens, and required to appear in court twice a month. Participation is for a minimum of 12 months; however, it is frequently longer than that. Graduations are scheduled as needed.”
The BHD is a specialty docket authorized by the Code of Virginia. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter7/section18.2-254.3/. Currently, only a small number of courts, less than 10, are doing this program.
“We meet here twice a month and there are other things that they have to do to keep their appointments and things with providers out in the community,” Williams said. “We keep track of all of them and I’m real proud of them.”
Josh shared a few thoughts with the group on his journey to the completion of the program, then picked up his guitar and started playing. His first song was “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash. His music has been a great therapy to him while circumventing the program.
“I’m really glad that they offer this program to people because I think it will really help a lot of folks,” Josh said. “When I realized a lot of people care about me, it feels good.”
When asked what he would say to others thinking about entering the program Josh said, “Just keep their hope up and keep working towards their dreams.”
*Josh’s last name has been withheld intentionally from this article to protect his privacy.
