In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month, we asked Georgia’s Model Veteran Treatment Courts for success stories to share and inspire. The Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court provides a path to recovery, accountability, and renewed purpose for those who have served our nation. The stories below highlight the courage, perseverance, and personal growth of participants whose journeys reflect the transformative impact of this program.
2024 Graduate: L.O.
“This program was not easy, nor should it be. It is the exact right balance of accountability and treatment which makes it so successful. I was treated by all staff members with grace, dignity and honor, and respect, which was more than I thought I deserved at the time. All that was asked of me was effort, discipline, and honesty. I am a completely different man than I was back in October of 2021. I have received countless hours of mental health treatment. I am a grateful recovering alcoholic with almost two years of sobriety, and I am a better father and husband than I ever though I would be. Fortunately, I also regained the trust and confidence of those I have failed”.
2022 Graduate: B. H.
“I needed help mentally and physically from my 8 years of service. I found that help through what I call a divine intervention and was blessed enough to be accepted into the Cobb County Veterans Court Program. It wasn’t a great experience that got me into the program, but it was what a combat veteran like myself needed. The care and treatment I received is undoubtedly what saved my life. It was a pleasure to be reintegrated into society, this way. I will be forever grateful to the staff and supporters who make this program possible. This programs design should be implemented across the nation. Lives have been saved and will continue to be as long as this program is being offered to returning war veterans.”
2024 Termination Hearing of T.J.
A participant was unfortunately going through the termination process from the program due to noncompliance. Two graduates of the Cobb VATC program were there in the program when he was terminated, and Judge Leonard allowed them to say a few words before he went back into the holding cell. These two graduates said, “we’ve got you”, “call us as soon as you get out of custody”, “you aren’t in the program anymore but, you are not alone”. Not only did he have graduates but, staff, mentors and current participants standing behind him showing support.
2023 Graduate: C.P.
We had local middle school students come to observe our program for court. One of our participants passed a word of wisdom on to these students by saying “I have been in and out of prison for 40 years, drugs have ruined my life, make good choices”. This same participant ended up graduating our program and rekindled friendships from high school, got a new job, and was sober for the first time in 40 years.
2021 Graduate: C.A.
We had a participant that had unfortunately had severe military trauma that led to a Heroin addiction. He ended up going to RSAT in our program and once he exited RSAT he hit the ground running with his recovery. He now is a graduate of Cobb County Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court. He has rekindled his relationship with his daughter and obtained as CDL and is a successful truck driver.
