Family Drug Courts can help reunite families

With state budgets strapped for cash, many programs are still able to save money while preserving families. In Sacramento County, its dependency drug court is not only good for families, it's saving millions of dollars. Over five years, the Sacramento Family Drug Court saved $17,619,822 in federal foster care costs alone due to the higher five-year reunification rates and shorter times in out of home care. Findings from a decade-long evaluation of the Sacramento Family Drug Court clearly indicate that family drug courts can help parents successfully complete treatment, leading to significantly higher rates of children reunifying with their parents and lower rates of future child abuse reports. Without the Family Drug Court, 369 fewer children would have reunified with their families by five years. Family Drug Court children spent an average of 26.5 fewer months in out-of-home care. Federal foster care costs for out-of-home care averaged $1803.13 per month per child. Published: Mon, Jun 20, 2011