Overview

The Alcohol and Drug Services Division and Child Protective Services (CPS) have collaborated together since 1994 to improve services to parents and children.

Early Intervention Specialists (EIS) social workers began assessing and linking parents with Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) treatment services in July of 2000.

Depencency Drug Court (DDC) began October 1, 2001, as a means to promote and support recovery and the reunification process.

DDC brings together the Superior Court, CPS, Alcohol and Drug Services, Sacramento Child Advocates (SCA), Parents Advocates of Sacramento (PAS), Dependency Associates of Sacramento (DAS), Bridges STARS (Specialized Treatment And Recovery Services) Program, and Sacramento treatment providers.

Critical components of DDC are:

• Immediate identification of alcohol and drug problems by EIS workers
• Prompt assessment and placement in treatment services, usually within 2-5 working days;
• A full continuum of alcohol and drug treatment services;
• Intensive recovery management provided by the STARS program;
• Drug Court hearings at 30,60,and 90 day intervals to monitor compliance and ensure accountability for all parents with alcohol and drug problems (Phase I - mandatory);
• More frequent drug court hearings for parents who are in need of additional support and monitoring in order to succeed (Phase II and III - voluntary); and,
• Timely use of incentives and progressive sanctions.

DDC/STARS Progress Update

Program Compliance:

Between October 1, 2001 and Sept 30, 2007

• 2,138 parents have been court ordered to participate in the Drug Court Program.
  
• 1,238 (58%) parents who participated have received certificates for 90 days continuous compliance.
  
• 663 (31%) parents who participated in DDC and choose to continues in the voluntary component of the program, graduated with a certificate of 180-days continuous compliance. To graduate a client must complete the following for 180 consecutive days:
  
  • Drug test negative 2-3 times weekly (random tests are employed);
    
  • Attend all treatment groups or individual sessions required;
    
  • Attend all scheduled meetings with their STARS Recovery Specialists;
    
  • Attend three or more support group or 12-step meetings weekly;
    
  • Attend all required DDC appearances; and
    
  • Complete all requirements of the Court.
    

Participant Characteristics:

The following averages reflect participant characteristics for the parents in the Year I, Year II, Year III, Year IV and Year V cohorts. An average of:

• 70% were mothers with an average age of 32;
• 84% reported being unemployed;
• 46% reported less than a high school diploma or GED;
• 41% reported being homeless;
• 33% reported chronic mental illness at treatment admission; and,
• 51% reported methamphetamine as their primary drug problem, followed by alcohol at 16%, marijuana at 18% and cocaine at 9%.

Treatment:

More parents participated in alcohol and other drug treatment. The following averages reflect participant characteristics for the parents in Year I, Year II, Year III, Year IV and Year V cohorts. An average of:

• 85% of parents with DDC involvement and 53% of the comparison group entered treatment; and
  
• 65% of parents with DDC involvement had a satisfactory discharge status from treatment within 12 months.
  
• 45% of parents stayed in treatment for more than six months.

Family Reunification:

Reunification rates have increased. The following averages reflect 12, 18, and 24 month reunification rates for Year I through Year V cohorts:

• at 12-months, significantly fewer comparison (19.1%) children had reunified with thier families than court ordered (37.8%) children.
  
• at 18-months, significantly fewer comparison (24.9%) children had reunified with thier families than court ordered (46.5%) children.
  
• at 24-months, significantly fewer comparison (27.2%) children had reunified with their families than court ordered (46.2%) children.

Additional Outcomes:

• During the past four years, it is estimated that the DDC has saved $16,086,091 million in foster care expenditures due to the higher 12-month reunification rates alone.
  
• The number of children who reunified and subsequently returned to out-of-home care was low.  8.9% (n=51) of the court-ordered children who reunified by 36 months experienced recidivism.  The 51 DDC children who experienced recidivism were from 27 families.
  
• Since the program began, over 100 infants have been born substance free. Cost savings related to hospital care, foster care and special education are significant, however due to evaluation resource limitations, have not been calculated specific to the DDC program.

Unmet needs:

There is an on-going need for additional services to address the multiple needs of parents. Some of the most difficult challenges include unemployment, chronic mental illness and homelessness. With enhanced resources, even more families would be able to reunify. For example, parents may complete AOD treatment and maintain sobriety, however, are unable to reunify due to a lack of adequate housing.

Our data suppoets the need for two services: Continuing Care Services which will gradually transition familites to Community Based Services for their ongoing support system, and a family and child resiliency program. This service would allow children a safe place to process their feelings regarding their parent's addiction to mind altering substances and their parents newly gained sobriety. This service would also coach parents and children about common daily interactions.

The Sacramento County Dependency Drug Court: The First Four Years report is available as an Adobe PDF file HERE complete with all the tables, figures, characteristics and recommendations as submitted to the Sacramento Juvenile Dependency Drug Court Committee.

Sharon DiPirro-Beard
(916) 875-2038
Dependency Drug Court Coordinator