Family Matters

Three London boroughs have joined forces to pioneer a new approach to improving the lives of children affected by their parent's substance misuse.
Sam Thorp reports.

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Substance misuse is one of the biggest issues dealt with by social services departments in London, accounting for two thirds of cases taken to court in care proceedings.

In a bid to improve outcomes for the many children affected by parental substance misuse, three London boroughs - Camden, Islington and Westminster - have come together to commission a new specialist court targeting families affected by drug and alcohol problems.

The first court of its kind in the UK, the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) opened its doors in January. The model is drawn from family drug treatment courts in the US and ties a comprehensive support programme to the courtprocess with the aim of helping parents overcome their addiction and, where possible, keeping families together.

The court will run as a pilot for three years and Brunel University will undertake an evaluation of the scheme. Funding comes from several government departments as well as contributions from the three local authorities totalling £450,000.

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