Dependency Drug Courts
Background
Dependency drug courts, like other problem-solving courts, address the root causes of justice system involvement through specialized dockets, multidisciplinary teams, and a nonadversarial approach. Offering evidence-based treatment, judicial supervision, and accountability, problem-solving courts provide individualized interventions for participants, thereby reducing recidivism and promoting confidence and satisfaction with the justice system process.
Currently, Florida has thirteen dependency drug courts in operation. As in traditional dependency courts, dependency drug courts focus on promoting child safety, permanency, and well-being. They also align with principles found in adult drug court (i.e., early participant identification, substance use disorder treatment, services for co-occurring concerns, frequent drug and alcohol testing, the use of incentives and sanctions, and medication-assisted treatment/medications for opioid use disorder). Dependency drug courts address timeliness issues that can often be found in traditional dependency courts, specifically allowing for participants to work on reunification with their children while receiving early substance use treatment.
According to the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, courts should establish the permanency of a child in foster care no later than 12 months after placement; however, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration does not recommend decreasing substance use treatment until at least 12 months have passed. This poses a dilemma because the child’s permanency outcome is to be achieved before a parent is likely ready to reduce or stop substance use treatment. However, because of the intensive services, increased family-time visitation, and more frequent court hearings, research has shown that participants in dependency drug court have better outcomes than comparable families in traditional dependency court.
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.
Below is a map of the dependency drug court sites throughout the state.
Data
In 2022, Florida began developing annual statewide data summaries that include information from all of the active dependency drug courts in the state. These annual summaries can be found below.
Trainings and Webinars
Using Dependency Drug Courts to Address the Prevalence of Substance Use Disorder
Substance Use Disorder is prevalent amongst families that are affected by the child welfare system. This is an opportunity to learn about a problem-solving court approach to working with families in the child welfare system who are affected by substance use disorder. OSCA staff and a multidisciplinary panel of presenters will provide an overview of the implementation, effectiveness, and statewide supports available for dependency drug courts.
Panelists include:
Chief Judge Shawn Crane, Sixth Judicial Circuit
Barbara “Basia” Andraka-Christou, Substance Use Disorder Expert
Meghan Chambers, Peer Support Specialist
David Chafin, Parent Attorney
Marth Firkins, Dependency Drug Court Coordinator
For attorneys and magistrates that attended or will view the recording, the CLE reference number is 2310876N. For judges who attended or will view the recording, the CJE reference number is 23-142.
Previous Webinars:
Florida Dependency Drug Court All-Sites Meeting (Virtual) 2020
Family Dependency Drug Court: Best Practices Overview
Where Are We Going? An Overview of Data for Florida Family Dependency Drug Court
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.
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 Family Courts.
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
Southeast Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (ROTA-RC) at the Florida State University center for the study and promotion of communities, families, and children.
Contact Karima Anderson for additional information on dependency drug court at andersonk@dishiniyulechengshiji.com