Building the Evidence Base for Family Drug Treatment Courts: Results From Recent Outcome Studies

Abstract

Family Drug Treatment Courts (FDTCs) are an in-creasingly prevalent program designed to serve the multiple and complex needs of families involved in the child welfare system who have substance abuse problems. It is estimated that over 301 FDTCs are currently operational in the United States. Few rigorous studies of FDTCs have examined the ef-fectiveness of these programs. This paper reviews current FDTC research and summarizes the results from four out-come studies of FDTCs. Results suggest that FDTCs can be effective programs to improve treatment outcomes, increase the likelihood of family reunification, and reduce the time children spend in foster care. However, further research is needed to explore how variations in program models, target populations, and the quality of treatment services influence effectiveness. Data collected for the four-site study (Green, Furrer, Worcel, Burrus, & Finigan, 2007) were supported under con-tract number 270-02-7107 from the Substance Abuse and