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Episode 2:  Louisville attorneys Rob Mattingly and John DeCamillis interview Jefferson County Judge Stephanie Burke about the Drug Court.  This episode deals with both mental illness and addiction.  They discuss her passion for helping people to recover, how Drug Court works and why it’s so valuable to our community.
The Honorable Stephanie Burke is a Jefferson County District Court Judge.  Elected in 2010, she’s served for the past 10 years.  She’s a mental health and criminal court judge.  She’s served in the Jefferson County Drug Court since 2012.  She also became the mental health judge in District Court in 2017.
Rob and John often receive calls from people who have family members suffering from mental health problems and/or drug addiction.  They simply need direction and advice as to how to help their family member. 
Addiction
Topic 1:  If someone has an alcohol or drug issue, but hasn’t be charged with a crime.
Topic 2:  If someone’s been charged with a drug or alcohol crime.
Mental Illness
Topic 3:  What do you do if someone suffering from mental health issues is in immediate danger?
Topic 4:  What resources are available if your family member is having on-going struggles with mental health?
John begins by commenting that Judge Burke has become the local expert in regard to how the court system can get involved on a personal level and save lives.  Judge Burke credits her early experience working with Judge Henry Weber, who was a Drug Court judge.  She was also a guardian ad litem working with people living in poverty.  Both experiences were formative in her desire get on the bench to help those people in need by getting them out of the system and to have better outcomes.
During her time on the bench, she was active in getting Tim’s Law passed.  This deals with court ordered assisted outpatient statue.  Judge Burke was instrumental in Kentucky recently receiving a $4,000,000 grant to help Jefferson County deal with people who are frequently hospitalized and incarcerated due to challenges in coping with their mental health situations outside of a formal setting.
Topic 1
When John receives a call about someone struggling with and issue, he tries to determine if it’s due to addiction, substance abuse, mental addiction or a combination of factors.  If it’s substance abuse the person’s age and insurance are important.  Casey’s Law becomes important when there’s no criminal action, but the parent wants to seek help for their loved one, through the court system. 
What Is Casey’s Law?
Casey’s Law enables a family member or loved one to take court action to obtain a court order to force someone into substance abuse treatment.  This would be an involuntary situation.  While this involves fees and other expensed, there are community resources available to help. 
To find out how to obtain a Casey’s Law order, visit www.CaseysLaw.org and search for Jefferson County.  The process is explained and the steps are laid out to help you.
Judge Burke suggests www.FindHelpNowKY.org, as a resource, before pursuing a Casey’s Law order.  A questionnaire on the site will provide a list of potential treatment options, based on the specific circumstances.
In 2020, Jefferson County had 600 overdose deaths.  There were only 218 in 2015.  The opioid epidemic combined with COVID pandemic have led to disastrous results in Jefferson County.  The isolation has exacerbated the challenges for those in recovery or those trying to gain sobriety.  Overdose deaths in Jefferson County increased by 60%, compared to last year.
As a family member of someone struggling with addiction, a court ordered intervention can be that step that helps to turn his/her life around.  Addiction treatment has enabled many people to begin and stick with recovery.  They can go on to have successful lives, save marriages and enable them to be the parents they really want to be, because the drugs are n

Episode 1 Focus for the Future:  Rob Mattingly and John DeCamillis launch their new podcast with an interview.  They speak with Tim Barnett, Founder of FOCUS Training Academy in Louisville.  FOCUS (an acronym for Focus On Character Equals Ultimate Success) works with youth to provide direction, motivation, purpose and a sense of personal responsibility.  Let’s join Rob and John for this insightful episode.
Tim explains that a core part of the FOCUS experience is based on developing people skills.  Young people are taught and then expected to greet adults and others.  It instills a sense of self-confidence and pride, which is constantly reinforced.  The environment also provides examples of leaders and the value of getting to know people who may be able to help them in the future.  It fosters a sense of community and belonging for all involved.
This is about more than basketball; it’s about life.  Tim discusses “The Story of 5” as an example of how lives can be changed and enriched.  He brought together 5 young girls from different socio-economic backgrounds.  They bonded as their team and friendships began to take form.  Several of the girls ended up going to high school together.  But the “winning” didn’t stop there.
How Does FOCUS Training Academy Achieve Its Objectives?
Tim and his team push people outside of their normal comfort zones.  Activities often include community outreach and service projects.  Academic performance and proper nutrition are also important parts of the program.  It’s about building the person holistically.  The positive habits are expected and reinforced.  Accountability is an important life-skill.
What if I Can’t Afford to Attend FOCUS Training Academy?
There are scholarships available, based on a work-study style arrangement.  Roughly 60% of the kids involved are on scholarship.  Funding from the community is key to being able to continue this valuable program.
How Does FOCUS Training Academy Help with Academics?
The Academy has partnered with JCPS.  Certified teachers come to the facility to help with tutoring after hours.  The focus on academics goes further than tutoring. 
Coping with the other Outbreak
John shares some comments about Louisville’s challenge with juvenile crime and violence.  Many kids don’t have the opportunity to escape dangerous environments.  FOCUS Training Academy is helping to address the situation.
Louisville’s West End can be a challenging environment.  The COVID pandemic has amplified that challenge because the schools have been closed down.  Many parents are working outside of the home and the children are sometimes left with little or no supervision.  It’s a recipe for problems. 
FOCUS Training Academy opened the Jesse E. Barnett Jr. Enrichment Center in 2019.  It’s been offering NTI (non-traditional instruction) in conjunction with JCPS.  Classes are held from 8:30 to 2:00.  JCPS is also providing breakfast and lunch at the Center. 
Many of the kids are able to participate in sports from 2:00 to 3:30. They take care of business and then get to have fun.  It provides a sense of belonging and safety.  Tim comments that its very similar to the Boys & Girls Club he attended when he was young.
A History of Providing a Positive Environment
Tim describes how the idea and the foundation for FOCUS Training Academy began to take shape in 2005.  Tim has a calling to work with young people.  Initially he got engaged with Ballard and Waggener High Schools.  That was his launching pad for what the program has evolved into over the years.
Rob’s 4 Life Questions
As part of the Life, Love & Law Podcast, Rob will present guests with 4 insightful questions:
If you could give any advice to a kid OR if you could go back as a kid and have someone give you advice, what would it be? What’s the best present you ever got or gave? What’s something about you that most people don’t know? Who was the bi