How does FDAC succeed with parents with substance misuse problems? : Exploring relational practices within the English Family Drug Alcohol Court

Harwin, Judith Elizabeth and Ryan, Mary and Broadhurst, Karen Elizabeth (2018) How does FDAC succeed with parents with substance misuse problems? : Exploring relational practices within the English Family Drug Alcohol Court. Child Abuse Review, 27 (4). pp. 266-279. ISSN 0952-9136

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Abstract

Parental substance misuse is a significant risk factor for child maltreatment and is frequently involved in care proceedings. Outcomes are often poor and family reunification is prone to breakdown. In this article, the contribution of the English Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) is examined. Adapted from the US family drug treatment court model, FDAC offers a radically different approach to ordinary care proceedings by treating parents as well as adjudicating. The article draws on a mixed‐methods evaluation of FDAC which reports better recovery and reunification rates than ordinary court. It presents findings from interviews with 42 parents and 154 court observations of 89 cases, focusing on FDAC's relational practices. The article concludes that these relational practices offer hope to substance‐misusing parents and that the approach merits wider attention because of its therapeutic potential and distinctive approach to justice. Key Practitioner Messages FDAC is a helpful approach to care proceedings for substance‐misusing parents. Parents value clear, consistent and honest messages about their progress when delivered in the context of trusted relationships and intensive support. Parents need holistic help that takes into account damaging early‐life experiences.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Child Abuse Review
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Harwin, J., Ryan, M., and Broadhurst, K. (2018) How does FDAC Succeed with Parents with Substance Misuse Problems? Exploring Relational Practices within the English Family Drug and Alcohol Court. Child Abuse Rev., 27: 266–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2521 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/car.2521 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2735
Subjects:
?? pediatrics, perinatology, and child healthlaw ??
ID Code:
124676
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
04 Jun 2018 08:38
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:56