NADCP: National Strategic Plan for Family Drug Courts Released

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) announced the release of the National Strategic Plan for Family Drug Courts. NADCP's statement is below:

"[NADCP] is pleased to share that the new 'National Strategic Plan for Family Drug Courts' has been released by Children and Family Futures as part of its training and technical assistance agreement with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

This Strategic Plan provides a framework for a coordinated national strategy to enhance and expand the use of family drug courts to improve the outcomes for children and families affected by parental substance use disorders. The primary goals of the plan are to:

1) Improve the effectiveness of the existing family drug court network by assuring it operates with fidelity to the model;

2) Expand the reach of family drug courts to keep families together and reduce child maltreatment; and

3) Continue to build the evidence base about what works for family drug courts to improve outcomes for children and parents.

Developed with a diverse group of stakeholders, the Strategic Plan is pertinent to all policymakers, practitioners, researchers, foundations, and advocates committed to improving child welfare and substance use disorder treatment outcomes for children and parents.

NADCP CEO Carson Fox notes, 'Of the more than 400,000 children in foster care, the majority are there because of a parent or caregiver who is in need of treatment for alcohol or drugs. This plan lays out a pathway to ensure all children and families have access to effective, evidenced-based services that are proven to improve child welfare outcomes. It advances justice for children and families affected by substance use disorders in a way that the field has never done before.'"

Download the Strategic Plan here.