Court services opens accountability store to benefit family treatment court participants

Published 7:03 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Troup County Court Services has opened an accountability store to benefit the participants of the Troup County Family Treatment Court, according to a press release from the county.

The store was opened on Nov. 6, exclusively to program participants as a way to engage and provide tangible rewards for participants of the Family Treatment Court by providing them with convenient access to low-priced household items in exchange for thriving in the program. 

The accountability store, located in the basement of the Troup County Juvenile Courthouse, is stocked with clothing, shoes, accessories, household items, toys, books and other basic needs for parents and children, all supported from various community donations and available funding. The goal of the Family Treatment Court is to provide parents suffering with drug addiction the opportunity to receive the services and treatment they need in order to improve their quality of life and ensure the safety and well-being of their children. 

During the duration of the program, participants are required to appear in court twice monthly before Judge Michael Key, attend intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment and life skills training classes and submit to random and frequent drug screens. The program offers weekly rewards and acknowledgments for doing well and reaching “star” status, including “Accountability Bucks” that can be spent in the accountability store. In response to the financial burden that many participants face during treatment, Key and Accountability Court staff members developed the accountability store to ease the financial strain on families, while providing steady motivation and encouragement. 

“The store will certainly make a positive, long-term difference in the lives of the Family Treatment Court participants and their families as they travel their road to recovery,” said Key in the press release. 

The benefit was formally named the accountability store to emphasize that there is value in accountability, both in terms of recovery and financial considerations. It is not open to the public.