Treatment Court Professionals Recognize Sen. Shirkey for Support of Andy’s Place

At the Jackson County Courthouse, (left to right) Judge Harvey Hoffman and Judge Susan Jordan present Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey with the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals’ President’s Award for his support of Andy’s Place.  Photo by Sara Scaife, JTV.

(August 6, 2021 3:56 PM) The Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals (MATCP), yesterday presented the President’s Award to Senator Mike Shirkey for his commitment to and support for Andy’s Place. 

Andy’s Place is the first of several permanent supportive recovery housing projects planned in Michigan to address recovery holistically. Instead of leaving jail and heading to rehab or probation, justice-involved patients and their families are offered one of 39 one-bedroom apartments at Andy’s Place, along with a separate building with 11 two-bedroom apartments to house families. This housing provides a key component to successful recovery by providing the opportunity to keep families together in a safe environment. Residents at Andy’s Place are referred by treatment courts in Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Calhoun, and Ingham counties.

“Everyone is but one degree of separation from someone who has needed help overcoming hardships like addiction,” Shirkey said. “I am humbled by this recognition because it stands as proof of the positive impact we can all make when we come together for a common cause. I also must mention and honor the driving force behind this project, Mike Hirst, for the servant leadership he has already demonstrated and continues to pour out.” 

In addition to securing funding for Andy’s Place in the 2020 state budget, Shirkey advocated on behalf of Andy’s Place for federal resources that help make operations of Andy’s Angels possible, according to MATCP.

Jointly presenting the award to Shirkey at the Jackson County Courthouse were Retired Judge Harvey Hoffman and Judge Susan Jordan.  Judge Hoffman served almost two decades as a DWI Court Judge in Eaton County, and was the primary author of Michigan’s Drug Treatment Court Statute and co-author of the state’s Veteran’s Treatment Court Statute. Judge Jordan is the Presiding Judge at Jackson County Adult Treatment Court.