Family Treatment Courts

Literature indicates that Family Treatment Courts outperform traditional child welfare courts on several indicators: 

• More time spent in treatment 
• More likely to complete treatment 
• Children are more likely to reunify 

The faster someone begins treatment, the more likely they are to be retained in treatment longer.

• Universal screening – States that mandate a universal screener, such as the UNCOPE, document alcohol and other drug use (AOD) as a reason for removal at much higher rates than states that do not (~60% vs 10%). (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,   Administration for Children and Families, & Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, 2018)
• Assessment – Best practice suggests individuals should be referred for assessment within 24-48 hours of identification.
• Treatment initiation – Results are best when treatment begins no later than 7-10 days after identification.
  

The longer someone stays in treatment, the more likely they are to attain stable recovery and be reunified with their children.

• Time in treatment – outcomes are best when individuals with a moderate to severe substance use disorder (SUD) remain engaged in treatment for a minimum of 90 days and remain engaged in community recovery supports for a year or longer (SUD is a chronic disease requiring on-going maintenance).
• Retention and completion of treatment have been found to be the strongest predictors of reunification with children for parents with substance use disorders.  (Green, Rockhill, & Furrer, 2007; Marsh, Smith, & Bruni, 2010).

The faster someone begins treatment, the more likely they are to be retained in treatment longer.

• Universal screening – States that mandate a universal screener, such as the UNCOPE, document alcohol and other drug use (AOD) as a reason for removal at much higher rates than states that do not (~60% vs 10%). (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,   Administration for Children and Families, & Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, 2018)
• Assessment – Best practice suggests individuals should be referred for assessment within 24-48 hours of identification.
• Treatment initiation – Results are best when treatment begins no later than 7-10 days after identification.
   

The longer someone stays in treatment, the more likely they are to attain stable recovery and be reunified with their children.

• Time in treatment – outcomes are best when individuals with a moderate to severe substance use disorder (SUD) remain engaged in treatment for a minimum of 90 days and remain engaged in community recovery supports for a year or longer (SUD is a chronic disease requiring on-going maintenance).
• Retention and completion of treatment have been found to be the strongest predictors of reunification with children for parents with substance use disorders.  (Green, Rockhill, & Furrer, 2007; Marsh, Smith, & Bruni, 2010).