Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Criminal Justice Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Justice Services proposes Family Treatment Court pilot to speed reunifications
Summary
Justice Services proposed restarting a Family Treatment Court to help high‑risk parents with substance-use disorders reunify with children; staff asked for two full-time positions and a two-year startup plan, and commissioners urged pursuit of grants and measurement of savings.
Justice Services and partner agencies presented a proposal to establish a Family Treatment Court aimed at parents and caregivers in the child‑welfare system who are struggling with substance-use disorders. Director Humphrey described the program’s purpose, staffing and startup timeline and said the court previously operated in Durham before state-level funding for treatment courts was reduced.
"This program would be funded... two full time FTEs, a coordinator and a case manager," Director Humphrey said, describing the staffing pattern consistent with other specialty courts. Staff said the pilot would admit a small initial cohort (10 unduplicated participants) with the intent to measure engagement, retention, completion and reunification outcomes and to refine referral funnels where needed.
Commissioners and partners asked about funding sources, including opioid-settlement dollars and potential federal grants; staff said opioid advisory funds had been considered but were insufficient to cover all requests and that the county would continue pursuing grants and partnerships. The public defender and DSS representatives described the court’s history and argued it shortened reunification timelines when previously operated.
Next steps: staff will refine budget details, pursue grant opportunities and return with additional analysis on projected outcomes and potential savings from faster reunifications.
