For five years, Clay County’s Family Recovery Court (FRC) has helped parents struggling with addiction reunite with their children and achieve long-term sobriety.
FRC is an initiative led by Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) and Judge Clint Harris in partnership with the Department of Community Based Services. The voluntary 18-month program works with families who struggle with addiction and are involved in the child welfare system. The immediate goal is to help parents maintain sobriety, and the long-term goal is family reunification.
“I came from a prosecutor background, and FRC gave me a different outlook on the people I was dealing with every day,” Judge Harris said. “They didn’t get into the situation they’re in overnight, so it’s not going to be fixed overnight.”
VOA FRC launched in March 2021. Two of the program’s first graduates, Destinie and Rubi Lee, are grateful for their FRC experience.
“Today, I have my kid and I’m able to love myself,” said Rubi Lee. “I got my own home, my own car, and I wouldn’t have had all of this if it wasn’t for FRC.”
Rubi Lee’s struggle with addiction began after she was prescribed pain medicine for an injury from a car accident. Over time, she became dependent on the pills, her drug use escalated, and she lost custody of her twin daughters.
It wasn’t until 2021 that Rubi Lee decided to commit to recovery. Her son, James Ryan, was born addicted to opiates, and she was at risk of losing another child. Judge Harris offered her another path.
“He gave me a choice to either go through the recovery program with him or lose him,” said Rubi Lee.
The ultimatum caused Rubi Lee to run out of the court room. But VOA FRC team members, Amanda Imhoff and Maegan Mayne, helped her find the confidence to take her first step toward a hopeful, healthy life for herself and James Ryan.
“I chose to go with him because I had already lost two of my kids, and I didn’t want to lose him.”
Rubi Lee first entered Freedom House, another VOA program that helps pregnant and parenting women find recovery. While in the 90-day program, she volunteered to join FRC for additional support to help her maintain her newfound sobriety.
She spent a year working with VOA, Judge Harris and DCBS to reach milestones that would help her become a successful sober parent and set her up for long-term stability.
“They helped me with my housing, then they helped me get my driver’s license and get my record expunged,” said Rubi Lee. “If it hadn’t been for them (FRC) I would’ve never been able to love my kids or myself.”
Today, Rubi Lee has full custody of James Ryan and shared custody of her 9-year-old daughter, Riley.
Destinie was also part of the first group of FRC graduates. Like Rubi Lee, Destinie volunteered to participate in the program while in VOA’s Freedom House.
“Freedom House was good as far as helping me work on myself and be a mom at the same time, but I wanted it to last longer,” Destinie said. “So, when I joined FRC, it was like that ongoing support that I needed.”
FRC helped her maintain custody of her 2-year-old son, Carter, find housing in London, and work toward her educational goals.
Destinie was the first recipient of the Allen Family Scholarship, a financial assistance opportunity given to VOA program participants. She started school at Eastern Kentucky University and is now working toward her nursing degree at Somerset Community College.
“I always knew nursing was what I wanted to do,” Destinie said. “I love healthcare, I always have.”
Today, Destinie is married and enjoying her new healthy, stable life with her husband and Carter. She continues to work on her sobriety and uplifts other women working to overcome addiction.
Destinie and Rubi Lee are just two examples of the life-changing support FRC provides.
To date, the program has served more than 180 families.
Clay County FRC’s success has led to an expansion of the program across the region. Currently, the program serves parents in 12 counties across southeast Kentucky.
Learn more about VOA and how FRC supports families in your community at https://www.voamid.org/locations/family-recovery-court-program/
The Manchester Enterprise, March 25, 2026
