The Family Centered Treatment Court (FCTC) in Sharp County, the only sanctioned drug treatment court in Arkansas, has received a grant exceeding $775,000 from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The funds will support efforts to assist individuals battling addiction in Northeast Arkansas.
An extension of the Sharp County Drug Court, the FCTC operates within the Randolph County Courthouse. The specialized court prioritizes treatment and rehabilitation over punishment, offering participants resources to achieve lasting sobriety.
Judge Adam Weeks, who presides over Arkansas’ Third Judicial District, emphasized the importance of expanding the court’s offerings. “We can help further strengthen those programs so that we’re helping people put together the toolbox necessary for them to stay sober—not just today, not just tomorrow, but really for the rest of their life,” Weeks said. “That, at least, is the goal.”
One key partner in these efforts is Hope Behavioral Healthcare, operated by Robin Stuntz-Christian. Prior to receiving the grant, the team relied on collaborative efforts to provide participants with holistic recovery options. “This has allowed us to all come together and turn it into kind of a stone soup situation where we’re all bringing our best,” Stuntz-Christian said.
With the additional funding, Hope Behavioral Healthcare is now available as an in-house resource. The court has also expanded its services to include financial aid for housing, utilities, rent, and medical appointments. The aim is to save participants time and remove barriers to treatment.
Kim Lavespere, the FCTC coordinator, highlighted the program’s quick enrollment process. “If they choose to go into the Family Center Treatment Court, I can sign them up immediately, and we do our referrals within 48 hours,” Lavespere explained. “So, within 48 hours, they’re getting services.”
Stuntz-Christian noted the program’s approach is rooted in fulfilling participants’ fundamental needs—such as food, shelter, and safety—before addressing mental health care. “Once they have food on the table, their bills are paid, the lights are on, and they are in safe situations, we can step in on the mental health side and actually build on that,” she said.
Judge Weeks also emphasized the significance of the grant, recognizing it as proof of the program’s value on a national level. The Sharp County treatment court is among only five in the United States to receive this funding.
“Too often, places like Sharp County, Arkansas, are written off as not that innovative,” Weeks said. “But when you give them a chance, we can do something amazing.”