Manhattan Family Treatment Court

Overview

Launched in 1998, the Manhattan Family Treatment Court addresses the problems of children neglected by substance-abusing parents or guardians. The court is one of the first of its kind in the nation. The Treatment Court enrolls addicted parents in treatment and rigorously monitors their performance. The Court also improves service delivery by exchanging timely information about parents and their children with the social service agencies responsible for monitoring the placement of children. Improved communication also enhances the judge's ability to make informed decisions about custody and foster care issues, enabling children to move forward and gain stability in their lives as quickly as possible. In 2001, the demonstrated effectiveness of the program led to its institutionalization by the New York State Unified Court System, which has assumed total administrative oversight of the treatment court.

How It Works

Key features of the Family Treatment Court model are:

Dedicated Team: The Court is presided over by a permanently assigned judge operating out of a single courtroom. The judge is assisted by a team of court-based case managers who link clients to services and provide consistent monitoring.

Services: On-site support groups enhance parental engagement in the recovery process. A comprehensive network of community-based service providers provides treatment and other services to drug-addicted parents and their children.

Monitoring: The Court requires frequent appearances by parents to monitor progress. The Court responds to progress and failure in treatment by using a set of graduated sanctions and rewards, which provide consequences for parental conduct.