FAMILY DRUG COURT PROGRAM DEFINED

In this chapter, "family drug court program" means a program that has the following essential characteristics: (1) the integration of substance abuse treatment services in the processing of civil cases in the child welfare system with the goal of family reunification; (2) the use of a comprehensive case management approach involving Department of Family and Protective Services caseworkers, court-appointed case managers, and court-appointed special advocates to rehabilitate a parent who has had a child removed from the parent's care by the department because of suspected child abuse or neglect and who is suspected of substance abuse; (3) early identification and prompt placement of eligible parents who volunteer to participate in the program; (4) comprehensive substance abuse needs assessment and referral to an appropriate substance abuse treatment agency; (5) a progressive treatment approach with specific requirements that a parent must meet to advance to the next phase of the program; (6) monitoring of abstinence through periodic alcohol or other drug testing; (7) ongoing judicial interaction with program participants; (8) monitoring and evaluation of program goals and effectiveness; (9) continuing interdisciplinary education to promote effective program planning, implementation, and operations; and (10) development of partnerships with public agencies and community organizations.