Family Treatment Court (FTC)

Expert Support for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders

A proven and effective evidence-based intervention program that provides expert and empathic support services, treatment, and monitoring aimed at providing the safety and well-being of families affected by Substance Use Disorders.

Two teenagers telling their mom what they won while Case Manager looks on
 

Service Overview

 
 

Family Treatment Court (FTC) is a juvenile or family court program for cases of child abuse or neglect in which parental substance use and often co-occurrent mental health disorders are contributing factors. Judges, court personnel, attorneys, child protective services, treatment professionals, and other community partners collaborate and coordinate services with the goal of ensuring that children have a safe, nurturing, and permanent home within mandatory timeframes. Parents achieve stable recovery, and each family member receives needed services and supports.

FTC consists of five milestones made up of achievable, realistic, and defined behavioral objectives related to rediscovery, reunification, and closure of the case. The milestones align with MDHHS timelines and promote parent empowerment. Treatment in FTC includes Substance Use Disorder treatment, Trust-Based Relational intervention, Family-Based Trauma treatment, and mental health treatment. Children are assessed for treatment needs and referred for appropriate services (OT, speech therapy, SUD, trauma, mental health, etc.)

Using a collaborative team approach, the 9th Circuit Court Family Treatment Court works alongside Family & Children Services to provide a parent coach who supports parent participants in their interaction with their children by helping parent participants develop and practice proactive parenting skills while ensuring an essential safe environment to maintain the parent-child bond.

 

The Family & Children Services’ Parent Coach and FTC Parent Participant collaborate to:

  • Build Parent confidence in developing new parenting skills
  • Establish parenting SMART goals through program milestone advancement.
  • Communication and conflict resolution skills.
  • Maintain safety during the Parenting Time visit.
  • Accurately report parent-child interaction to the FTC team.
 

Eligibility Criteria:

 
 
  • Parent must have a substance use disorder.
  • Parent must be a Kalamazoo County resident.
  • Parents must not have a history of violent offenses.
  • NA case must be adjudicated.