Family Enhancement and Strengthening Program - A Comprehensive Program that Provides Integrated Care to Families in Crisis in Dallas County, Alabama

The Family Drug Court Implementation and Enhancement Program builds the capacity of states, state and local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments to either implement new drug courts or enhance pre-existing drug courts for individuals with substance abuse disorders or substance use and cooccurring mental health disorders, including histories of trauma, who are involved with the family dependency court as a result of child abuse, neglect, and other parenting issues. This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 3797u, et seq.

The goals of the Dallas County Family Drug Court (FDC) enhancement grant are to reduce substance use and improve participants’ mental health functioning while striving to reunite the family, and simultaneously working toward improving overall functioning of the family unit. Evidence of effectiveness will be measured through participant improvements observed in the five domains of the North Carolina family assessment instrument, substance abuse and mental health symptom reduction/improvement as shown in diagnostic summaries provided by the Cahaba Mental Health Center’s Alethea House substance abuse treatment center drug screen results, fewer arrests/legal citations, percentage completion of program and individualized case management/care plans, program completion rates, and number of families safely reunited. The program plans to service 25 families. The FDC will collaborate with the Cahaba Mental Health Center to develop an individualized service plan (ISP) for each dependent child. As with the parent, this ISP will reflect individual presentation, needs, goals, and objectives and a plan to address them through trauma-informed therapeutic services, and will include the parent/guardian and child in its development.

CA/NCF