Tulsa (OK) Family Drug Court
Problems addressed
Family breakdown and/or dysfunctionality
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Children (4 to 13 years)
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Adults (18 to 59 years)
Where the program was applied
Courts of justice
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a judicial treatment program for parents with problems related to substance use and children in institutional care due to child neglect and/or abuse. The goal is to increase the likelihood of the child returning to their family by strengthening and restoring the family bond.
The program offers parenting skills training and substance use treatment, structured in phases, with the use of sanctions and rewards. While receiving treatment, parents are referred to two other parenting/family programs. Entry into the program is voluntary, but exit is conditional for parents who have not met the requirements or completed the intervention plan.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation revealed that, within 45 months, families who received the program had a 178% chance of regaining custody of their children [1].
The study used a quasi-experimental propensity score matching strategy with a sample of 214 children whose child welfare cases were adjudicated through the program and 418 comparison cases combined [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Brook, J., Akin, B. A., Lloyd, M. H. & Yan, Y. (2015). Family Drug Court, Targeted Parent Training and Family Reunification: Did this Enhanced Service Strategy Make A Difference? Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 66(2), 35–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12028

Information source