<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) were introduced to England in 2008 following their development in the USA. Pilots launched across the country adopted a family-based strategy with the aim to improve outcomes for children that live with parents who misuse substances or alcohol. The numbers of children entering the care system has increased with ‘subsequent new borns’ being a particular concern frequently becoming ‘looked after’ by the state at birth. This article will focus upon an initial phase of a study that tracked the establishment of an FDAC pilot. It reveals how the FDAC team collaborated with Judges and a diversity of professionals and parents to create conditions through which ground-breaking practice was forged. The environment created is unique as it is one fully set within the context of each family’s lived experience. Through this approach parents have become full participants in court proceedings as opposed to purely subject to them. As a result, significant numbers of children have remained with or been returned to their families.</p>
</abstract>

Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) were introduced to England in 2008 following their development in the USA. Pilots launched across the country adopted a family-based strategy with the aim to improve outcomes for children that live with parents who misuse substances or alcohol. The numbers of children entering the care system has increased with ‘subsequent new borns’ being a particular concern frequently becoming ‘looked after’ by the state at birth. This article will focus upon an initial phase of a study that tracked the establishment of an FDAC pilot. It reveals how the FDAC team collaborated with Judges and a diversity of professionals and parents to create conditions through which ground-breaking practice was forged. The environment created is unique as it is one fully set within the context of each family’s lived experience. Through this approach parents have become full participants in court proceedings as opposed to purely subject to them. As a result, significant numbers of children have remained with or been returned to their families.

Research supporting service transformation: Family Drug and Alcohol Courts and understanding the factors that contribute to their success

International Journal for Transformative Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) were introduced to England in 2008 following their development in the USA. Pilots launched across the country adopted a...

Research supporting service transformation: Family Drug and Alcohol Courts and understanding the factors that contribute to their success

Published Online: Oct 01, 2023

Page range: 1 - 7

Received: Jan 25, 2022

Accepted: Nov 11, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijtr-2023-0001

Keywords
Child protection, Serious harm, Family courts, Substance misuse, Parenting, Holistic approaches, Multi-disciplinary working

© 2023 Doug Martin, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Research supporting service transformation: Family Drug and Alcohol Courts and understanding the factors that contribute to their success

Published Online: Oct 01, 2023

Page range: 1 - 7

Received: Jan 25, 2022

Accepted: Nov 11, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijtr-2023-0001

KeywordsChild protection, Serious harm, Family courts, Substance misuse, Parenting, Holistic approaches, Multi-disciplinary working

© 2023 Doug Martin, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Child protection, Serious harm, Family courts, Substance misuse, Parenting, Holistic approaches, Multi-disciplinary working