Transcript Family Drug Court - Children's Network of South Florida

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Specialized program within Dependency court
designed to treat parents when substance
abuse is a core issue.
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Increased accountability on the part of the
parent
Increased court supervision
Increased support for the families involved
Sanctions for non-compliance
Focus on the parent
“Re-parenting” the parent
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Frequency of urine screens
 For the first 3-5 months in Drug Court a
participant will be tested at least 2x per week,
sometimes as often as 5x per week.
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12-step meetings
 Participants must complete 90 meetings in 90
days and turn in slips weekly
 Participants must get a sponsor and utilize the
12-step program
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More people to answer to:
 Judge weekly, child welfare case manager,
SWFAS case manager, lab tech, court
administration, bailiff, etc.
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Cases where substance abuse is the core
issue
Cases where the parent admits a problem
with substances and is asking for help
Cases where the parent has co-occurring
disorder
Cases where the children have been placed in
foster care
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New time limits are not in line with recovery
from substance abuse.
Some families have greater needs and benefit
from additional support
Supervision of the case after closure
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Will I get my children back faster in Family
Drug Court?
◦ There is no easy way, or quick answer
◦ Chances are that it will take longer, BUT after
reunification it is LESS LIKELY that children will be
re-removed
◦ Population has greater needs and less support
◦ Family Drug Court requires a higher level of
compliance
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Family Drug Court is not a substitute for
treatment.
Rejecting the offer of Family Drug Court does
not mean that a parent is exempt from
attending a substance abuse screening/
assessment
Detox does not satisfy the “SWFAS evaluation”
component of a case plan
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Send a Drug Court Referral via fax to SWFAS
Attn: Sheree Beau Wells 239 332-0287
Contact Debbie Basford at (239) 9319744(office), or email at
[email protected]
Notify the DCF attorney
Notify the GAL attorney (if one is assigned)