title: How does family drug treatment court participation affect child welfare outcomes?
abstract: Parental substance use is a risk factor for child maltreatment. Family drug treatment courts (FDTCs) have emerged in the United States as a policy option to treat the underlying condition and promote family preservation. This study examines the effectiveness of FDTCs in North Carolina on child welfare outcomes. Data come from North Carolina records from child protection services, court system, and birth records. Three types of parental participation in a FDTC are considered: referral, enrolling, and completing an FDTC. The sample includes 566 children who were placed into foster care and whose parents participated in a FDTC program. Findings indicate that children of parents who were referred but did not enroll or who enrolled but did not complete had longer stays in foster care than children of completers. Reunification rates for children of completers were also higher. Outcomes for children in the referred and enrolled groups did not differ in the multivariate analyses. While effective substance use treatment services for parents may help preserve families, future research should examine factors for improving participation and completion rates as well as factors involved in scaling programs so that more families are served.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Box 90545, 214 Rubenstein Hall, 302 Towerview Road, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Joanne
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Duke University, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey Morgan
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eldred
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Duke University, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vernerey
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Duke University, USA.
authors.forename: Frank Allen
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sloan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Child welfare; Family drug treatment court; Foster care; Parental substance use
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