Showing Up Matters: Kim Robbins’ 24 Years of Dedication to Drug Court
November 2024 DUI/Drug Court graduates— celebrated new beginnings for Cortney Candelaria, Tanner Beebe, Charles “Tony” Bryan, Toni Thompson, and Jeffery Hart. Honorable Judge Mary Sue Wilson and Judge Skinder joined in recognizing their hard work and commitment to positive change.
You’ve probably heard the saying that 80% of success is just showing up. But for participants in the Thurston County DUI/Drug Court Program, simply showing up can feel impossible. Between personal struggles, systemic challenges, and the unpredictability of life, the obstacles are overwhelming. Thankfully, Drug Court Coordinator Kim Robbins is there to provide stability in the chaos.
Robbins knows a thing or two about persistence—after all, she quite literally started her career in Drug Court by showing up against all odds. “My interview was scheduled for February 28, 2001, the day of the Nisqually earthquake,” she recalls with a laugh. “Phones were down, so I couldn’t call to check if it was still happening. I showed up anyway, and I think they hired me because they knew I would always show up! I should have known then that this position would be an adventure.” As of April 1, 2025, she’ll have been with Drug Court for 24 years and will be starting her 25th year.
Before stepping into this role, Robbins spent 15 years at Providence St. Peter Hospital, working her way up from file clerk to Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Family Practice Residency Program. Transitioning from healthcare to criminal justice was an extreme culture shock, but it didn’t take long for Robbins to find her footing.
She was also part of the early days of the Strophy Foundation, though it had a different name back then. “When we started, it was called the Community Drug Court Support Foundation,” she explains. “We didn’t have all the Therapeutic Courts we have today.”
At the time, Ms. Ellen Goodman was the Program Administrator for Drug Court, and it was just the two of them running the program. “She was amazing at securing grants,” says Robbins. “But grants only covered program operations and treatment—not things like transportation, emergency needs, or personal essentials.”
After attending a National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) conference, the two women realized they needed a nonprofit to fill those gaps. “We reached out to community leaders, shared the needs of Drug Court participants, and built a foundation to support them.” What started as a small effort with local attorneys and business owners eventually became the Strophy Foundation, which now supports all of Thurston County’s Therapeutic Courts.
These days, Robbins describes her daily duties as “herding cats.” She juggles court calendars, documentation, urinalysis testing, and participant check-ins, ensuring the program runs smoothly. But what makes it all worth it? Seeing people succeed.
“I believe Drug Court helps build pathways to recovery,” says Robbins. “We provide treatment and housing support, but we also hold people accountable for their choices. Sanctions and therapeutic adjustments help participants stay on track, and that’s what ultimately keeps them moving forward.”
It’s a unique and demanding job, but Robbins wouldn’t trade it for anything. And if an earthquake couldn’t keep her from showing up, nothing else will either. Because for her, that’s what it takes to succeed.