Patricia Coates

Jim Coates was an Oakland County Deputy Sheriff for 31 years. He conquered his own alcoholism in 1988 with the assistance of professional substance abuse counselors and remained in recovery for the duration of his life. Jim was a 1992 graduate of the Oakland Community College Mental Health/Social Work program with a specialization in Substance Abuse, and a registered Social Work Technician with the State of Michigan. The OCC program and instructors remained very dear to Jim beyond his graduation.

Jim utilized his own experience and education to form the first Employee Assistance program within the Sheriff’s Department, and to develop and facilitate the First Step Program for offenders with substance abuse issues at the 52nd Division Court in Rochester Hills. Jim also served as a DARE (Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education) instructor in the Avondale School District, and was a mentor to many young people both personally and professionally.

The objective of this scholarship is to facilitate the education of future generations of substance abuse counselors, in hopes that they will follow in Jim’s footsteps of continually striving to have a positive impact on the lives of others.