Deonte Lyons, left, and Louis Boroff spend time with some of the animals at the Fulton County Animal Adoption and Education Center recently. The two men were volunteering there as part of their participation in the Fulton County Jail Chemical Addiction Program and are set to be the first Fulton County JCAP graduates on Saturday, Oct. 14. Photos provided by the Fulton County Jail.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — Helping others recover from addiction takes many people.

That’s according to Debbie Fernandez. She and her husband Hector Fernandez serve as the coordinators for the Fulton County Jail Chemical Addiction Program.

Through the program, inmates at the county jail take life skills classes as well as classes to address their chemical addictions.

The first two men, Deonte Lyons and Louis Boroff, will graduate from JCAP at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony at the jail.

Bringing JCAP to the county was one of Fulton County Sheriff Travis Heishman’s goals when he ran for sheriff last year.

“I’ve known Deb and Hector for years, and they’ve been a part of recovery in Fulton County for years,” he said. “I think (JCAP) was one thing that we collectively conceded there was a need for.”

He and the Fernandezes looked at Boone County’s JCAP as well as Kosciusko County’s.

“We saw the success of Kosciusko County with (former Kosciusko County JCAP Coordinator) Courtney (Jenkins), and it’s just one of those things that you can grab hold of the service providers around here … and (adjust the program for Fulton County inmates),” said Heishman.

The county was able to start the program with the help of a grant from Drug Free Fulton County. County leaders also established a donation fund.

The current round of JCAP started on July 10 and is set to wrap up on Oct. 10.

The men going through it are living in a separate section in the jail from the rest of the jail population. Inmates’ participation was voluntary, with Fulton County Jail Commander Cathi Collins and Assistant Jail Commander Marty Ehlinger and Fulton County Probation’s Todd Hudkins also weighing on potential participants.

Along with the Fernandezes, a number of organizations and businesses are teaching sessions on everything from finances to parenting.

Those include: First Federal Savings Bank of Rochester; 4C Health; Snyder Counseling of Logansport; Artful Expressions, an art therapy program by Sherry Knight; The Cross Church; WorkOne; Faith Outreach Center; Narcotics Anonymous; Rochester Community School Corp.; Purdue Extension; Intrepid Phoenix, a fitness program; Warsaw Adult Education; and Celebrate Recovery.

Heishman called community support so far “fantastic.”

“Unfortunately addiction affects everybody, so I would be comfortable to say there’s not anybody that comes in to here to volunteer or in this program that hasn’t been affected in some form or fashion with addiction and or recovery,” he said.

Hector said some of the volunteers leading classes “were apprehensive coming in a correctional facility at first.”

“Now in a matter of weeks, they just blossomed as far as they get along with the men,” he said. “They’re not scared anymore, and it’s just the community, the service providers have … surrounded the inmates and they’re actually bonding with them.”

Debbie said the current service providers have already agreed to sign up for the next round of JCAP, which starts Dec. 10.

The Fernandezes and the FCSO would also welcome any new individuals, businesses or organizations who have skills to teach future JCAP participants.

People may contact the FCSO; Hector at (574) 835-1007; or Debbie at (574) 201-8461. Emails may be sent via [email protected].

Monetary donations are also welcomed, with those able to be made via the above contact information.

Hector and Debbie both battled addiction themselves in the past and vouched for the need for recovery programs like JCAP.

“From a recovering addict’s standpoint, when you (deal with) addiction, you lose your life skills,” Debbie said.

“We need programs like JCAP, because a long, long time ago, Debbie and I were in jail, and they had zero programs,” added Hector.

“It takes all these pieces (to help with recovery), the sheriff’s department, the sheriff, the providers to complete that beautiful picture of recovery,” said Debbie. “We’re all in this together.”

Lyons holds some kittens at the center.

Boroff has a moment with a kitten at the center.