At a meeting of the Clay County Board of Commissioners, judges and coordinators gave an annual update on the county’s treatment courts and asked the board to allow about one‑third of a grant allocation to remain in county control for recovery‑focused supports.

The presenters — who described drug, DWI and veterans courts that serve high‑risk, high‑need justice‑involved people — said the drug court has 19 participants and reported seven graduations in 2025, the DWI court has 10 participants (no graduations yet) and the veterans court has one participant on a path to graduate next year. They emphasized that the courts combine evidence‑based substance‑use and mental‑health treatment with high‑intensity supervision and community wraparound services.

Why it matters: Court staff said that beyond clinical treatment, participants need practical supports — what they called “recovery capital” — to reduce recidivism and help people reintegrate. The presenters asked the board to let roughly one‑third of available funds be retained locally to pay for items such as classes, drivers’ training, hobby or vocational opportunities and peer support services.

Details from the update: Staff described local capacity‑building in 2025, including a foundational All Rise training provided at no cost, a new SharePoint site for coordination, added defense counsel on the team, peer supports at court sessions, and partnerships with local organizations (Lotus Center, Heart of Clay, Cap LP and the Joy Project) to expand services and community connections. The presenters said training, increased visibility and a new coordinator position have strengthened the team and prepared the program for growth in 2026.

Program length and capacity: In response to board questions, presenters said most participants complete the core phases of the program in about 18–24 months (some as short as 12 months), with recovery‑capital activities introduced in the later phases. On capacity, the DWI court said the DOC’s supervision guidance and the program’s intensive contact model suggest roughly a 20‑participant cap per probation agent.

Funding request and fiscal handling: Presenters said their funding request this year matches last year’s and clarified the dollars: one‑third equals $10,000 of a $30,000 allocation. Examples of intended uses included paying for drivers’ education (presenters cited an amount of about $130), adjusted community classes run at different hours for participants, and a subsidized financial literacy class. County Administrator Larson told the board the county would retain the portion locally and reimburse the courts on invoice as they spend it; no formal reclassification was required for the board to authorize the retained portion.

What’s next: The presenters left an executive summary and data packet with the board and invited commissioners to attend graduations. The board did not vote on a specific new appropriation during the meeting; staff and the courts will work with county finance to place the retained funds into budget/ledger lines and provide invoices when expenses occur.