We joined Tonie Dreher, a women’s specialist on CASES newSTART (Short-Term Alternatives and Referrals to treatment) team, to learn more about her work and what freedom means to her.
What is newSTART?
NewSTART is an alternative to incarceration program that diverts people from jail to community-based treatment services. This short-term, rapid intervention program aims to break the cycle of arrest and incarceration for people with frequent low-level charges, one that is often connected to untreated mental illness, substance use or a lack of stable housing. Unlike many court-initiated programs, when participants complete their required appointments, they can remain in newSTART to continue receiving voluntary support.
“We interact with each other like a family,” Tonie says, because her approach to her work comes from a place of love, care and deep understanding. Many newSTART staff have faced the same struggles as their clients, which builds trust and makes participants feel truly heard.
Meeting People Where They Are
On a recent visit, Tonie shared the story of Alicia.*
Alicia was arrested, completed her court mandate through newSTART, and continues to come back for voluntary services. Living on the streets, she often drops by whenever she needs help. When Alicia came in unexpectedly after missing an appointment, Tonie picked up right where they left off—meeting Alicia where she was, not where anyone expected her to be.
Whether someone needs groceries, clothes, or a MetroCard, Tonie adapts to address these needs day by day. “It’s [about] giving that person grace and space. To be able to meet them where they are when they come in, so every day looks different. No one day is the same.”
Even though no two days are the same, one thing remains constant in Tonie’s work: building connections that help her clients thrive. Linking participants to services at CASES and with trusted community partners is at the heart of what she does. For example, she often refers clients to Harlem United for healthcare, housing and harm reduction services. Always looking ahead, Tonie actively seeks out new relationships and resources so she can open even more doors for the people she serves.
Tonie’s work also includes supporting participants facing gender-based discrimination. Many of Tonie’s participants are trans women who are able to open up about their trauma. Tonie pushes for their right to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity and connects them to services that respect and affirm who they are. “This is a safe space for people. I want to make sure that it doesn’t matter how you identify, that you’re respected.”
What does Freedom Mean?
For Tonie, freedom is not only about being free from the physical confinement of prison walls and psychiatric wards—it’s also about being free on a more personal level. “Freedom, to me is important because it’s also being free in my mind. You know, it’s being free [from] a cage of my own mind.”
Tonie draws from her work with clients and from her personal experience of being incarcerated to conceptualize this kind of freedom. Many people who have been harmed by racism, poverty and incarceration begin to question: Am I good enough? How did I get here? Do I deserve to be where I am? Tonie recognizes this self-doubt as mental confinement and believes that freedom is about believing that you deserve healing and opportunity.
Tonie sees herself as a mentor to her clients: “Modeling what freedom looks like to my participants is everything to me. Modeling what it looks like to be free because I take care of my mental health—I model that every day. You know, I give someone the hope that you can actually overcome.”
Living with PURPOSE
Tonie embodies our P.U.R.P.O.S.E. values of People and Empathy by holding her clients’ stories with dignity and seeking to truly understand their experiences. Through her compassion and commitment, she creates a space where every person feels heard, respected, and supported.
CASES is grateful for Tonie and all she does to help her clients find the freedom to thrive.
*Pseudonym
