First Judicial District Family Drug Court

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 co-occurring 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 Montana Supreme Court, in collaboration with the First Judicial District (FJD) Court, will implement a Family Drug Court (FDC) to assist with permanency for children whose parents are nonviolent, and to ensure clean and sober parenting. The program goals are to address trauma issues in families so they can acquire skills, identify and create healthier relationships, increase parent/child bonding activities through therapeutic visitation that increases parental confidence and satisfaction in visitation, and results in reduced incidents of abuse/neglect and increased permanency. FJDFDC targets parents whose children have been placed into child protection services due to child abuse and/or neglect resulting from a substance use disorder. Program progress will be measured through the number of positive family connections maintained, increase in family participation, positive outcomes of parent/child visitation, and reduction in foster care placements. CA/NCF