OJJDP FY 2010 Family Drug Court Programs: Category 2-Enhancement

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.

The Chatham County Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) aims to enhance programming for targeted responses and increase capacity. This program has been in existence since January, 2008 and has active participation and on-going commitment from the local court, child welfare, substance abuse treatment, legal and law enforcement agencies. Chatham County will serve families in with substance abusing parents who are involved with the family dependency court system as a result of child abuse and neglect issues via services parents as well as their children. The parents must voluntarily enter the program.

Proposed activities to achieve goals and objectives include: addition of a Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) Technician, addition of a part-time court-based case manager, transportation for children to evidence-based programming, additional visitation, increased community policing, addition of a highly-qualified and designated treatment representative, and establishment of emergency/gap funds for family's immediate needs. Progress will be measured by number of parents and children served, number of successful graduates, percentage of permanent placements, number of referrals to DFCS or law enforcement after completion, and number of system-level initiatives implemented. CA/NCF