CHARITIES AND COUNCILS WELCOME GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO THE FIRST FAMILY DRUG AND ALCOHOL COURT
25 January 2010 A joint statement by children’s charity, Coram, The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington and Westminster – welcoming the news that funding will be committed to the Family Drug and Alcohol Court until 2012.
We know that over 70% of cases of children who enter care are from families with substance misuse, domestic violence and/or mental illness. The families that the Family Drug and Alcohol Court specialist team work with have incredibly difficult and complex backgrounds – which is why working together with each of the agencies has been so paramount to the success of the court.
Since 2008, the specialist team have seen worked with over 70 families. Parents who may have otherwise had their children removed from their care, have been given the support networks to give them a chance to change their lives and be with their families.
This commitment by government to continue funding the court means that we can give even more parents the chance to turn their lives round and remain with their children or if this is not possible to work with us to secure the best possible future for their children.
District Judge Nick Crichton says: “I am delighted that further funding has been made available so that the project can continue until we have the final evaluation by Brunel University. The FDAC Team is working incredibly hard with parents with very serious substance misuse issues, and I believe that in the last six months we have begun to see some very promising results from their efforts.”
Louise*, who has recently been through the programme says: “It is an excellent service that supports, advises and encourages parents with a vocabulary and attitude that if we’re fresh out of addiction we can connect with and understand.”
The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) is a collaboration between Coram and The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust, and commissioned by Camden, Islington and Westminster Councils.
* Name changed to protect identification
