The Family Drug Treatment Court program in Judicial District 16B, also known as the Robeson County Bridges for Families, has recently received a Program of Excellence award in the category of Prevention, Outreach, and Wellness. The honor was presented on December 8 by the N.C. Council of Community Programs, an organization representing the local management entities (LME) and managed care organizations (MCO) of North Carolina.

"It is an honor to be recognized for the incredible work our Robeson County Bridges for Families program is doing to make a difference in lives of individuals in our community," said Chief District Court Judge James Carmical of Judicial District 16B. "Our courts play an integral role in providing support and resources to families across Robeson County."

The Family Drug Treatment Court is a special court for cases involving parents and guardians who are in danger of losing custody of their children because of substance abuse and child neglect issues. The goal of the program is to help parents achieve a fundamental change in lifestyle by providing support and assisting them in recovering from drug or alcohol addictions. The program provides resources to help parents become responsible caregivers and positive role models to their children by connecting them with a wide range of community resources such as healthcare, housing, parenting, and life skills, and educational and job training programs.

The N.C. Council of Community Programs presents the Excellence Awards during its annual conference in seven categories for nomination. Programs chosen are considered to be the best program in that category in North Carolina for that particular year.

For more information, please visit the N.C. Council of Community Programs.