Highland County's New Way to Recovery Drug Court celebrates largest-ever graduating class

The New Way to Recovery Drug Court Docket of the Highland County Common Pleas Court celebrated its largest-ever graduating class Sunday, April 30, with 12 individuals recognized in the fourth graduation ceremony in the program’s history.

The April 2023 graduating class included Amber Blankenship, Daniel Breakfield, Travis Carter, Anthony Gillingham, Lacey Hensley, Mike Hornschemeier, Joshua Knisley, Melody Schrader, Larry Smith, Jayson Vilvens, Kevin Wright and Sydney Yoakem.

The first drug court session was held in August 2019, and the program includes four phases that take a minimum of 18 months to complete. Since the drug court docket began, 32 individuals have successfully completed the program.

According to Highland County Probation Director of Programming & Clinical Services and Drug Court Coordinator Tonya Sturgill, there have been 73 participants and only 17 unsuccessful discharges to date, placing Highland County “a little above the national average” in compliance rates.

Sturgill said not only was this spring’s graduating class the largest to date, but it was also a particularly “strong” group.

“A lot of these graduates completed the entire program and never had a positive drug screen, which is almost unheard of,” Sturgill told The Highland County Press. “Usually in the drug court, we do have those that stumble a few times along the way.”

Sturgill praised the individual accomplishments of the group as well. For example, she said, Blankenship had been in and out of probation for over a decade — since 2009 — before being admitted to the drug court docket in 2021.

“She said, ‘If I can just get to six months clean. I’ve never in my life had six months clean.’ And now she has over two years clean,” Sturgill said.

In addition, Blankenship has secured full-time employment and has repaired her relationship with her family, Sturgill said.

Hornschemier is another individual who had been in and out of probation since 2013. Sturgill said he is now gainfully employed and is committed to both sobriety and to his family.

Gillingham, Hensley and Vilvens are all employed with area recovery providers, where their good example helps them be “a role model to others,” Sturgill said.

Breakfield has worked as many as three jobs simultaneously, while now he has been promoted to a meat manager position at an area store.

Carter has managed to gain full-time employment, a residence and a repaired relationship with his family, while Sturgill praised him for never missing a single appointment throughout his over two-year recovery journey.

Knisley used his time in the drug court docket to complete residential treatment program and obtain a certificate for automotive service excellence and is now employed and over two years sober.

Schrader is over two years clean and has managed to get her driver’s license and purchase a car.

Smith has “rebuilt his relationship with his wife and children” and is also a production supervisor who has been clean for over two years.

Wright, whom Sturgill said actually voluntarily entered the drug court program to help himself on his recovery journey, has mended his relationship with his family and is now successfully employed with an area distribution center.

Yoakem overcame some early obstacles and is now clean, has regained custody of her children and is expecting a baby this spring.
 
Sturgill told The Highland County Press she gets “emotional” when she reflects on the years of work all of the graduates have put in.

“This group has made some amazing accomplishments in their journey,” she said.

The guest speaker at graduation was another shining example from the New Way to Recovery docket. Joe Williams, who started with the program in August 2019 and graduated in November 2021, gave the keynote address.

“He was amazing,” Sturgill said of Williams’ speech. “He blew everybody away.”

Sturgill added that all of the graduates are encouraged to be a part of the drug court’s alumni group “to not only support each other, but to mentor others” currently in the program.

As previously reported, according to Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss, “the mission of the drug court docket is to enhance public safety by preventing recidivism; assisting participants in taking responsibility for their behavioral health issues by turning them from a path of self-destruction to a path of recovery; creating a continuum of approved treatment and rehabilitation services through community programs that meet the needs of participants; and using evidence-based practices in intervention and treatment of substance abuse and other co-occurring mental disorders or medical issues that offenders may have.”

Sturgill praised Coss for his continued efforts to ensure the program’s success.

“I might be a little biased, but I can tell you without a doubt Judge Coss is one of the best drug court judges in the state,” she said. “The balance between support, structure, encouragement and discipline that he brings to the bench are truly remarkable, and it’s an honor to work for him.”

Sturgill added that many other counties in the state have modeled their program after the Highland County drug court, at the encouragement of the Supreme Court of Ohio.

“I don't think a lot of people realize that when another county in Ohio is certifying to be a drug court, the Supreme Court gives our name,” she said. “When I say he's one of the best in Ohio — he is.”

Also thanked were Jon Parr and Kim Davis of the Probation Department, as well as the treatment providers who assist with the program, including: The Recovery Council (FRS); The Counseling Center; STAR Community Justice Center; Another Chance Ministries; REACH For Tomorrow; Friel and Associates; and Clean Acres.