Use me, God.
Show me how to take who I am who I want to be, and what i can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Do something greater than yourself.
What do you do?
SPEAKER EDUCATOR ADVOCATE
After years of working in the criminal justice field with issues such as dependency, criminal offenses, cognitive behavior therapy and a backbone in research I now speak on key topics with a foundation of scientific support.
In the courtroom it was evident there were gaps that needed to be closed for the clients to successfully reintegrate into the community.
Why could I not close the gap myself? So in November of 2017 I set out to create my vision. Discovery Alcohol & Drug Education, LLC provided the entire treatment continuum with an entire court trained staff.
While building this program I acquired more insight into why the disparity continues to be an issue for the clients. It was simple...
Knowledge.
One hand didn't know what the other was doing. So, one county at a time I began doing just that.
Educating.
Educating the probation officers on the state courses and their application to certain charges, I educated Judges on the stipulations the state had imposed on treatment facilities that may not cater to the needs of the court or client, I educated the District Attorneys on outside programming they might use in mandated conditions.
Knowledge closes the gap.
I also speak on the topics I was trained in as a probation officer, a parole officer, a court liaiason officer and a clinician. My mission is to provide these key tools that can close gaps between the courts and the community to empower and better lives as well as help people find their voice.
Hello
BA, MS, LCDC
Barbara Holguin
My bachelor's degree is in Criminal Justice with a law track. My admiration for the law led me want to enforce and protect it and that became my goal following my college graduation. I made the cut at a challenging police department but failed my polygraph. I persevered and began working at TDCJ beginning with the units in Bellville, Texas. After two years I moved over to Harris County Probation Department where I was able to be cross trained in: Sex Offender Unit, Satellite Unit, TRAS and lastly as a Court Liaison Officer. I completed my graduate degree Sociology while working for the probation department as well as during the birth of my first child. My love for the law was sparked again as I excelled in the Sociology Department working with topics such as Sex Offender Reintegration and Recidivism of Juvenile Offenders. My final last work in research was following my graduation I worked alongside a team that studied ecological alternatives to assist juveniles with a criminal history and homelessness. With my infant strapped to my chest I his carrier, I conducted my first hands-on research where I was the lead Sociologist. We teamed up with South Texas University and my first work was published in a textbook on campus as well as a book. I returned to work at the probation department in the Courts, this time with the privilege of working alongside presiding Misdemeanor Judge Diane Bull in the Sober Court. This was my first opportunity to observe how impacting having a team supporting you through your probation was for our clients. I left probation in 2016 after the birth of my second child and was deeply afflicted by Postpartum Depression. It was difficult to return to work and my Felony Court Assignment with presiding Judge Brown. In November of 2017, faced with absolute uncertainty Discovery Alcohol & Drug Education Program was forged.