Dependency Drug Courts

Background

Although the first dependency drug court appeared in Reno, Nevada in 1995, Florida was not far behind, implementing the first Florida dependency drug court in Miami in 1999.  As of 2017, approximately 370 dependency drug courts (also called family treatment courts or family drug courts) exist across the nation to bridge the gap between adult drug court and traditional dependency court. Florida currently has 13 dependency drug courts.   

The goals recognized within traditional dependency court (timeliness, safety, permanency, the general well-being of children etc.) are included in dependency drug court, but principles found in adult drug court (i.e. early identification, substance use disorder treatment,  a non-adversarial approach, services for co-occurring  concerns, frequent drug and alcohol testing, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and incentives and sanctions) are also incorporated and combined with evidence-based practices.   

This unique approach allows for participants to work on reunifying with their children while receiving timely substance use treatment, two timelines that are difficult to reconcile in traditional dependency court.  According to the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA), courts should establish the permanency of a child in foster care no later than twelve months after placement; however, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) does not recommend decreasing substance use treatment until at least 12 months have passed.  This causes conflict because the child’s permanency is to be decided before a parent is likely to be ready to reduce substance use treatment, and in fact, the parent may not be ready at all. However, because of the intensive services, increased family visitation, and more frequent court hearings, research has shown that participants in dependency drug courts have better outcomes than comparable families in traditional dependency courts. 

Why Dependency Drug Court Matters

Research shows that 60 to 80 percent of children with substantiated child abuse and neglect cases have at least one custodial parent with a substance use disorder. Moreover, a 2018 study concluded that 69% of children who participated in a Florida early childhood court over a five-year period had been placed into foster care due to parental substance use. 

According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), dependency drug court has the following positive outcomes compared to traditional dependency courts:

• Higher rates of substance use treatment program completion by parent
• Lower number of days for children in out-of-home care
• Higher rates of family reunification
• Lower rates of termination of parental rights
• Lower rates of re-abuse (re-entry into foster care after reunification)
• Lower rates of criminal recidivism by parent (if applicable)
• Cost-Effectiveness (a savings of $5000-$13,000 per family)

A similar independent study also found an average savings of $1 million dollars per 200 cases.

Trainings and Webinars

The Office of Court Improvement will list webinars here as they become available.

“Florida Dependency Drug Court All-Sites Meeting (Virtual) 2020”

September 30, 2020

Description: This meeting allowed multidisciplinary teams from each of Florida’s dependency drug courts will gather via Zoom to share best practices and discuss strategies that support the standardization and sustainability of the dependency drug court approach. This meeting includes Kirstin Frescoln of Children and Family Futures discussing the family-centered focus (participants and their children and families) in substance use disorder treatment and dependency drug court, as well as a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) panel presentation with Dr. Andraka-Christou of the University of Central Florida, Judge Jeri B. Cohen of Miami Dependency Drug Court, and Allison Norland, successful dependency drug court parent graduate. Participants are encouraged to use best practices and evidence-based programs found in the National Family Treatment Court Best Practice Standards and the draft Florida Dependency Drug Court Best Practice Standards in their own dependency drug court to meet their parents’ assessed needs; promote engagement and retention in substance use disorder treatment for sustained recovery; and ensure family safety, permanency, and well-being.

“Family Drug Court Tutorials”

June 1, 2020

Description: Children and Family Futures offers five free learning modules on the general overview and principles of dependency drug court. These modules found here (http://www.cffutures.org/online-tutorial/fdctutorials/) are recommended for those new to dependency drug court (such as new team members or community partners) and include national best practice standards. A certificate of completion is available.

“Family Dependency Drug Court: Best Practices Overview”

May 20, 2019

Description: This webinar will provide an overview of the benefits of dependency drug courts; the roles of multidisciplinary team members; and system, parent, and child-focused best practices.

“Where Are We Going? An Overview of Data for Florida Family Dependency Drug Court”

March 1, 2019

Description: This webinar will provide an overview of the evaluation and monitoring best practices for dependency drug court, including what data should be collected, and what the proposed certification process looks like for the future.

Publications and Resources

More information regarding dependency drug courts is available on the Children and Family Futures site.

The National Family Treatment Court Best Practice Standards can be found on Children and Family Futures’ website here (https://www.cffutures.org/fdc-tta/ftc-best-practice-standards-2019/)

OSCA Dependency Drug Court Fact Sheet – This two-sided fact sheet can be downloaded, printed and distributed. It summarizes what makes family dependency drug court different from traditional dependency court and describes the benefits of dependency drug courts.

For information on the opioid crisis and judicial response, visit The Opioid Crisis page.

Trauma effects many people in different ways, especially those who are involved in the child welfare system. For information regarding trauma, curricula that can be used in training others, and a self-care trauma toolkit for professionals, please visit the Family Court Tool Kit: Trauma and Child Development, which was created by the Office of Court Improvement.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Fact Sheet – This two-sided fact sheet can be downloaded, printed, and distributed. It summarizes what MAT is and does, the different types of MAT, and what the courts should consider regarding MAT.

Contact Karima Anderson for additional information on dependency drug court.