The Floyd County Mental Health Court held their first graduation on Mar. 26. Graduates Nathan Blackburn and Angela Hall expressed their gratitude for the program and those who assist with it. The two received a certificate, and will have the opportunity to have their records expunged.
Floyd Chronicle and Times photo by Devin Kidd
Floyd County Mental Health Court held its first ever graduation in the Floyd County Justice Center on Mar. 26. Nathan Blackburn and Angela Hall were the first two graduates of the program.
Tyler Green, Floyd District Court judge and judge for the mental health court, said Floyd County is the only county east of I-75 to have four specialty court programs. Additionally, he expressed his admiration for the two graduates and spoke of their perseverance while going through the program.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert said seeing Blackburn and Hall reach graduation is what speciality courts is all about.
“These two individuals made a decision early on that things were going to change for the better, and not just for them, but for their families” she said. “I’m happy to be here today, this is what specialty courts are all about.”
Blackburn expressed his gratitude for not only the mental health program, but those involved in helping its participants.
“This has been a long time coming; mental health court definitely did more for me than drug court did” he said. “This is a big achievement for me; I’m proud of myself and very grateful for all the speciality court staff, and especially Judge Green for always encouraging me and never giving up on me.”
Hall, who Green said is working toward an RN license, echoed Blackburn’s gratitude, and provided an analogy to describe what mental health court is like.
“I saw a neighbor plowing his garden today and thought of this analogy; because we pack our pain down deep and tight in firm ground, I had to ask if I was willing to dig it all up to receive fresh soil to grow a new me, someone who can come through brokenness and attempt to heal and push the plow through all that’s held me down” she said. “Life’s got a mean right hook, but I’m so grateful I kept getting up. During this journey, I’ve had a true reckoning with myself, I’ve had to learn to trust myself and others and I’ve rebuilt a resilience that had been missing for such a long time. Most importantly, I’ve learned to look forward and not back. I’m grateful for a second chance.”
Hall thanked the mental health court staff, and addressing Green, she said “thank you for seeing us and not just case numbers.”