Value Of FDAC ‘Problem-Solving Approach’ Highlighted By New Study
A new large-scale study has revealed the positive impact of the Family Drug and Alcohol Courts in care proceedings.
Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs) were first piloted in London in January 2008. They were introduced to the UK by the well-known District Judge Nicholas Crichton, who sadly passed away in December 2018. DJ Crichton had been inspired by Family Treatment Courts in California, and wanted to develop a similar problem-solving approach in the UK.
FDAC aims to address the problems which led a local authority to bring parents to court by using a problem-solving approach. This involves a specialist multi-disciplinary team working closely with a judge and other professionals to provide intensive support to parents, with the aim of reducing their substance misuse issues.
Foundations’ study found children with a primary carer in FDAC care proceedings were significantly more likely – 52% versus 12.5% – to be reunified with their primary carer at the end of the care proceedings in comparison to children with a primary carer in non-FDAC care proceedings. As a result of the study, Foundations recommended that the Department for Education and the Care Proceedings Reform Group should consider embedding evaluation, including a cost analysis, in any scale up of problem-solving approaches in family courts.
This follows a theme in private law proceedings, where organisations such as the Family Solutions Group have been calling for a shift from an adversarial approach in children’s cases to a problem-solving dynamic. We know from our work advising parents together that perspectives change considerably simply by virtue of hearing legal advice together, rather than apart.
The pioneering work of District Judge Nicholas Crichton continues to show the difference which can be made when family justice embraces new approaches.
You can read the full Foundations report here: FDAC-report.pdf (foundations.org.uk)
Author Name: Editor
Published content by The Divorce Surgery Editorial Team.
Related Posts
