Thanks to the Department for Education and £2.5mn of Government investment, the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC), which works with parents, social workers and substance misuse professionals to end addictions in families, will now be rolled out across other parts of the UK.
The FDAC currently operates across London, Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, ensuring that families where drug and alcohol misuse is present and causing problems can receive support and advice to enable them to stay together.
Due to the FDAC’s success, the new financial investment will go towards launching Family and Drug Alcohol Courts in new areas such as Coventry, Kent and Medway, Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter, and West Yorkshire, meaning that the service will aid a greater number of families that need help.
Parents will also see the same FDAC judge throughout proceedings, as well as being offered easier access to substance misuse services and advice on housing issues, domestic violence and financial hardship.
Edward Timpson, Secretary of State for Children and Families, said: “I know from my years at the Bar that when it comes to supporting our most vulnerable and troubled families, there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach. Families need tailored and personalised support to help them stay together and thrive.
“Since 2008, the Family Drug and Alcohol Court has thrown an invaluable lifeline to hundreds upon hundreds of families, helping parents shut the door on destructive behaviour and making sure everyone is working towards the best possible outcome for the child – a safe and stable family.
“Extending the Court’s work further will deliver real, life-changing results for families across the country and I look forward to seeing how the scheme develops over the coming months.”
Brunel University’s independent research revealed families that received FDAC intervention saw a greater success rate in substance abuse being stopped over people who had been through normal care proceedings.
The study’s statistics revealed that 40 per cent of mothers stopped misuse, whereas only 25 per cent successfully stopped in non-FDAC cases.
When the court fails – if mending the family relationship is not possible – it makes quick decisions to place children in a permanent stable home with minimal disruption.