Staff photo / Chris McBride From left, Women’s Therapeutic Docket graduate Chelsea Prezgay, Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice, graduates Jasmine Aponte and Kimberly Ervin, Chief Probation Officer Tracy S. Hunt, probation officer Sharon Whitaker and Day Reporting Center Coordinator Lauren Holt, pose for a photo after Tuesday’s graduation ceremony.

WARREN — For the women graduating from Trumbull County Common Pleas Court’s Women’s Therapeutic Docket on Tuesday, the journey to sobriety and self-reliance has been anything but easy.

But Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice, who started the docket, said their success is a testament to the power of support, accountability and resilience. The program is designed to help women facing drug-related offenses or mental health challenges rebuild their lives.

Rice said the program’s focus is on addressing trauma, fostering self-confidence and creating a supportive community.

“These women have been through so much — abuse, trauma, addiction — and our goal is to help them find their strength and become contributing members of society,” Rice said during the graduation ceremony.

The five-phase program requires participants to attend regular court sessions, support meetings and counseling while managing jobs, families and other responsibilities. As they progress, the requirements become less frequent, culminating in graduation and a fresh start.

At Tuesday’s ceremony, three women graduated, while several others moved up in phases, marking significant milestones in their recovery journeys.

For Kimberly Ervin, one of the program’s recent graduates, the journey has been life-changing.

“If it wasn’t for this program and Judge Rice, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Ervin, who celebrated two years of sobriety at the ceremony. “They saved my life, but I also had to do the work. Accountability was key.”

Several of Chelsea Prezgay’s family were there to watch her commitment to change be cemented.

She shared how she overcame personal tragedies, including the loss of loved ones, while staying sober.

“This program helped me find my self-worth,” Presgay said. “I realized I was worthy of love and capable of change.”

Her aunt, Mary Beth Kovach, was by her side at the ceremony, beaming with pride.

“I always knew she was a great person,” Kovach said. “She just needed to see it in herself. Today, she’s proving that she can overcome anything.”

Prezgay, who recently gave birth to a “miracle baby,” chose to forego pain medication during delivery to stay true to her commitment to sobriety.

“I wanted to be able to nurse him and take care of him the way only a mother not on drugs can,” she said. “Drugs and mothering don’t mix. I tried it before, and it didn’t work out.”

Jasmine Aponte, who has been clean from drugs for a year and a half, also celebrated her graduation. She credited the program’s supportive environment and the connections she made with other women.

“They’re like family to me,” Aponte said. “We lift each other up and keep each other strong.”

Tashi Johnson, a guest speaker at the ceremony, shared her own journey of overcoming the stigma of being a felon. Now working at Parkland Recovery, a rehabilitation center, Johnson finds purpose in helping others.

“I’ve been on both sides of the fence,” she said. “If I can help even one person, it’s worth it.”

Rice said her commitment to helping women overcome addiction stems from her unique career path. Before becoming a judge, she worked in pharmaceuticals, educating physicians about the dangers of opioids. Later, as a prosecutor, she established Trumbull County’s Pharmaceutical Diversion Unit in 1991 to combat prescription drug abuse.

“I saw firsthand how addiction devastates lives,” Rice said. “But I also realized that sending people to prison without addressing the root causes doesn’t solve anything. This program is about giving people the tools they need to succeed.”

Chief Probation Officer Tracy S. Hunt praised the program’s impact.

“It’s more work, but it’s worth it,” Hunt said. “These women are high-risk, high-need, and this program gives them the support they need to turn their lives around.”

As the program continues to grow, Rice hopes it will inspire similar initiatives across the state.

“We’re showing that with the right support, people can overcome even the toughest challenges,” she said. “These women are proof of that.”

For the graduates, the program is more than just a second chance, it’s a lifeline.

As Aponte put it, “Stay strong, keep your head up, and keep moving forward. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”