Marion County's Family Drug Treatment Court

The purpose of the Family Drug Courts Program is to build the capacity of states, state and local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments to develop and establish drug courts for substance-abusing adults involved with the family dependency court as a result of child abuse and neglect issues. The program must provide services to the children of the parents in the program as well as to the parents. The program provides seed money, not long-term support. OJJDP expects successful applicants to develop and implement a sustainability plan during the grant period to continue operation of the family drug court when the grant ends. The program is authorized under 42 U.S.C. 3797u, et seq.

Marion County's Family Drug Treatment Court ('MCFDTC') will treat parents and children who are referred to the system for neglect which is due in part to substance abuse. This court will integrate a court based collaboration through expedited referrals, safe and permanent placements, coordinated services, and quality treatment. The goals are to reduce the parents' substance abuse which will improve the functioning of families. This program will unite multiple stakeholders into a coordinated system of care. The Family Drug Court Team will address the needs of drug addicted parents and their families who are parties to a Children in Need of Services ('CHINS') case in Juvenile Court. The three phase program will integrate substance abuse treatment services with case processing by requiring frequent court appearances accompanied by a system of incentives and sanctions; random drug testing; and a continuum of residential and outpatient treatment services. The program will serve 20 families the first year, 30 the second year, and 40 the third year and participation will be for 9 months. A full time Court Coordinator, two Case Specialists, a case aide and evaluation will be funded through this grant.

CA/NCF