Major new multi-site evaluation of family drug and alcohol courts (FDAC) published today strengthens the evidence base for further rollout and evaluation
3rd August 2023
Major new multi-site evaluation of family drug and alcohol courts (FDAC) published today strengthens the evidence base for further rollout and evaluation
The Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University welcomes this new evaluation conducted by NatCen and published by Foundations. It is the first multi-site comparison of FDAC and standard care proceedings heard under the Children and Families Act 2014.
The new evaluation finds that reunification rates and parental substance misuse cessation are significantly higher in FDAC than in standard care proceedings. With other positive findings, the report recommends that commissioners should consider the contribution that FDAC could make in their area. It also calls for further research into FDAC, a rigorous cost evaluation, and better data collection on FDAC and standard care proceedings.
The report findings strongly resonate with our own research into FDAC at Lancaster University and with international evidence. Here at the Centre we support the recommendations which provide a clear pathway to further strengthening the evidence base on FDAC and standard care proceedings.
It is pleasing a see a growing body of consistent evidence providing support for an alternative therapeutic approach to care proceedings.
The Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho, in the Sunday Times, welcomed the report and its positive findings, saying that "Family drug and alcohol courts can help to ensure we get closer to our ambition for every child to have a safe, stable and loving home.”
For further information contact Professor Judith Harwin j.e.harwin@lancaster.ac.uk
Click to find out more information about our current research into FDAC: Investigating the impact of family drug and alcohol courts on parental offending: a data linkage study
Click to find out more about our previous research into FDAC: Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) Evaluation Research