The Dallas County Drug Court recently won the National Association of Drug Court Professionals 2016 Cultural Leadership Award.

According to Director Miah Jackson, letters were sent out earlier this year to registered drug court systems in the U.S. listing criteria to be considered as award recipients.

“I don’t know who nominated us or what they said. I was very surprised when I found out we won, but I was also elated,” Jackson said.

Jackson said she believed the Dallas County Drug Court system was nominated because she and her team goes above and beyond to help people with addiction to substance abuse and alcoholism.

“We ensure that we provide services that remove barriers. We are a bulldozer. Whatever it may be that is keeping people from going to the next level or fulfilling their purpose, we are there to remove it for them,” Jackson said.

The system has been available to Dallas County residents since 2009 and acts as a liaison between parents and their children who are affected by drug and alcohol abuse; giving families the chance to be reunited and helping to make sure children are in safe environments.

Veteran Treatment Court, Adult Drug Court and Driving Under the Influence courts are a few provided through the Dallas County System.

“One of the main reasons why we were chosen as award recipients is because of the array of services we provide and the different courts we have,” Jackson said.

In all courts, Jackson said that case management, vocational and education services and treatment are provided for everyone who attends.

The Dallas County Drug Court system will receive its award at the closing ceremony of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Annual Conference, which they will attend on June 1 through June 4 in Anaheim, California.

The conference will feature ideas and information on how to be effective in helping substance abusers. Being that the Dallas County system won the award, team members from the office will participate in a spotlight session.

Jackson said she is looking forward to attending the conference and learning new tactics and programs that she may be able to bring back and implement within the system.

“We will learn the latest evidence-based treatment practices and programs that will continue to help families. Every time we go to the conference, there is another opportunity. We want to know how we can change our population through what we learn,” Jackson said.