TIFFIN, Ohio — Seneca County’s PIVOT Recovery Program has been awarded a $190,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to continue providing addiction treatment and recovery services through the county’s court system.
The funding will support substance use treatment, peer support, case management, employment assistance and other services intended to help participants maintain sobriety, reduce repeat offenses and rebuild their lives, according to a news release from the Seneca County Common Pleas Court.
PIVOT, which stands for Participating in Victory of Transition, is a specialized recovery court serving individuals with substance use disorders. Rather than relying solely on traditional criminal sentencing, the program combines judicial supervision with treatment, accountability and services designed to address addiction and its effects on participants’ lives.
According to the Common Pleas Court’s program description, PIVOT lasts a minimum of 15 months and consists of five phases. Participants regularly appear before Common Pleas Judges Steve C. Shuff and Damon D. Alt and Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court Judge Rhonda L. Best, who monitor their progress through treatment and recovery.
The program includes drug testing, meetings with probation officers and case managers, mental health services, employment assistance and support in securing stable housing. Participants must meet specific requirements to advance through each phase, with the frequency of court appearances and supervision generally decreasing as they progress.
“This investment reflects the State of Ohio’s continued commitment to evidence-based recovery programs that change lives,” Shuff and Alt said in a joint statement. “The PIVOT Recovery Program gives individuals the tools and support they need to overcome addiction, become productive members of the community, and build a better future for themselves and their families.”
The new award continues a history of outside funding for the local recovery court. PIVOT previously received $157,665 from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, which distributes funding from opioid-related settlements to support addiction prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across Ohio.
County officials have also previously secured state and federal grants to support PIVOT and probation services, reducing the amount of local funding needed to operate those programs.
The latest announcement did not specify the grant’s funding period, how many participants it is expected to serve or whether it requires a local financial match.
Shuff and Alt thanked the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction for its continued support. The judges said PIVOT will continue working with local treatment providers and community organizations to help participants achieve long-term recovery while addressing repeat criminal behavior.
