Rachel Schools was certain the end was near for a Hanover County program she credits with saving her son's life.

In January, Schools and about a dozen other parents pleaded their case for funding the Hanover County Juvenile Drug Treatment Court program before county supervisors.

Their words hit the mark. The budget for fiscal year 2008-09, adopted this month, includes about $80,000 for the program. The county is receiving an additional $50,000 from a private donation.

"We are thrilled it is going to continue," said Schools, whose son, Robert, will graduate from the Drug Court program in June. "It would have been a huge loss."

Started in June 2006 with a two-year, $400,000 federal grant, Drug Court provides therapy, probation and supervision, drug screening, support-group meetings and school monitoring to county teens with substance-abuse disorders who have engaged in criminal activities. Once adolescents complete the program, their criminal records are wiped clean.

The program has served 27 teenagers, ages 14 to 17. But its continuation was in doubt with the two-year grant coming to an end. That's when parents took action. They spoke to the board before the proposed budget was completed, giving County Administrator Cecil R. "Rhu" Harris Jr. time to add it.

"Their coming helped solidify the support that was already there," Harris said. "I'm very excited we still have the opportunity to serve these youth."

The program will serve at least the same number of teenagers (12 to 15 at a time), but the coordinator position will be eliminated July 1. The two other positions, a clinician and probation officer, will remain. The coordinator's position will be absorbed by Juvenile Court Services and the Community Services Board.

"It will be a seamless transition," said Tim Slaven, executive director of the Hanover Community Services Board.

Participants meet with counselors three times a week and a juvenile judge twice a month. They submit progress reports, perform community service and develop a relapse prevention plan. A probation officer makes surprise visits to homes.

Robert, who began drinking when he was 9 and later used cocaine, will graduate from the two-year program in June. He earned his GED in 2006 and is working as a welder's assistant.

Since he is leaving the program in two months, the demise of drug court would not have been a blow to his family. But it would have been to others, Schools said.

"We don't know who the kids are we worked so hard for," she said. "But the thought of it not being there for other kids who will need it was very upsetting."
Contact Janet Caggiano at (804) 649-6157 or jcaggiano@timesdispatch.com.