Visitation Enhancement Project for FDC families and children in alternative care

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 either implement new drug courts or enhance pre-existing drug courts for substance-abusing adults involved with the family dependency court as a result of child abuse and neglect issues. Applicants 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.

Delayed, infrequent, or negatively distorted parent-child visitation experiences are prominent barriers to reunification in the child welfare process. These barriers can be reduced and/or eliminated through guaranteed extended visitation and the implementation of a specific therapeutic model: visit coaching. This enhancement for the Family Drug Court of Kansas City Family Drug Court will enable parents and children to maintain or strengthen their relationships, achieve emotional stability as well as achieve earlier reunification. This innovative practice model will achieve the following objectives: four hour weekly visits, no missed visits, CARE language implemented, sobriety maintained, one or less disrupted child placements, high parent satisfaction, and unsupervised visitation within six months of treatment court entry. CA/NCF