National Training Conference Comes to Houston

Since 1995, thousands of treatment court professionals, public health and public safety leaders have attended the premier conference on substance use, mental health and justice reform: the RISE conference hosted by All Rise (formerly known as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals). This year the RISE 23 conference was held right here in Houston and over 7000 people attended, including Specialty Court team members from Harris, Galveston, and Fort Bend Counties. Over 350 presenters from across the country offered more than 250 sessions focused on ensuring attendees would return back to their jurisdictions and offer evidence-based treatment and recovery to individuals in the justice system due to a substance use and/or mental health disorder. 

The conference opened with the announcement of the National Association of Drug Court Professional’s rebrand to All Rise. Via video, Treatment Court champion, Martin Sheen, challenged attendees to work until all communities recognize that true justice is served when people with substance use and mental health disorders have access to effective treatment and thriving recovery. All Rise Chief Executive Carson Fox told the crowd that All Rise was well positioned to lead the next generation of justice evolution. The call to action was met with enthusiasm and commitment.

Our local teams attended sessions focused on best practices and critical issues facing Specialty Courts. The Justice Forward team attended sessions related to unhoused participants, positive recovery language, children, and families. Everyone left re-energized to do more for those we serve.



On-going training has always been a key component to successful Specialty Courts. Best practices now dictate that treatment team professionals participate in training to increase program outcomes and decrease costs. The participants and families in our Specialty Courts deserve our best. Training allows us to better meet their needs and return them to the lives they deserve.