Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation

The evaluation examined the effectiveness of family drug treatment courts in four court settings. The study employed a multi-method, quasi-experimental research design to document whether family treatment drug courts are more effective than traditional court settings in helping parents achieve sobriety and increasing the frequency of successful parent-child reunification.

The study investigated the key mediators of program success, including the effect of family treatment drug courts on treatment access, treatment completion, parent motivation, child and family well-being and other key mediators.

The study involved administrative data collection from court, child welfare, and treatment records as well as interview data collection with a subset of parents involved with the family treatment drug courts. The Suffolk and Washoe County evaluation used a within-county comparison group design, while the California evaluation design relied upon a time series analysis using comparison county data.

Project Team
Co-Principal Investigators Project Director Research Coordinator Research Staff
Reports and Publications

Finigan, M. W., Burrus, S. W. M., Carey, S. M., & Mackin, J. R. (May 2008). Family Drug Treatment Courts and Juvenile Drug Courts: Outcomes, Costs and Promising Practices. Powerpoint presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, St. Louis, MO.
Powerpoint

Worcel, S. D., Green, B. L., Furrer, C. J., Burrus, S. W. M., Finigan, M. W. (March 2007). Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation: Final Report.NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Report | Executive Summary | Key Outcome Findings

Green, B. L., Furrer, C. J., Worcel, S. D., Burrus, S. W. M., & Finigan, M. W. (Jan. 2007). How effective are Family Treatment Drug Courts? Results from a 4-site national study. Child Maltreatment, 12(1), 43-59.
Abstract

Green, B. L., Worcel, S. D., & Finigan, M. W. (June 2006). Family Treatment Drug Court National Evaluation Overview & Phase 1 Preliminary Results. [Powerpoint slides]. NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Powerpoint

Worcel, S. D., Furrer, C. J., Green, B. L., & Rhodes, B. (June 2006). Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation Final Phase I Study Report. NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Report

Green, B. L. (June 2006). Making Your Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation Work. [Powerpoint slides]. NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Powerpoint

 

 Informing policy, improving programs