The Family Drug Court is a collaborative effort of the Fulton County Juvenile Court, Department of Family and Children's Services, it’s legal counsel, Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, the parent’s counsel, Family Drug Court Child Advocacy Attorney and numerous community treatment providers.

 

  

Before being considered for Family Drug Court, a parent must satisfy two components of eligibility, Program and Clinical.

 

A. Program Eligibility

The parent must be:

• A resident of Fulton County, Georgia
• A legal parent, who is the primary caregiver of a child 12 years of age or younger
• Have no prior substantiated reports of child physical or sexual abuse; and
• Have deprivation allegations arising from the substance abuse or dependence

(*Note: Prior felony conviction(s) for any violent offense(s) such as, but not limited to, aggravated battery/assault, will be handled on a case by case basis.)

 

 

 

 

B. Clinical Eligibility

The parent must have:

1. The ability to participate actively in the substance abuse treatment program as directed by the substance abuse treatment provider and the court

2. No significant mental health disorders that would substantially limit, in the professional opinion of the Treatment Case Manager, the parent’s ability to participate actively in treatment even with reasonable accommodations

3. No significant developmental disability that would substantially limit, in the professional opinion of the Treatment Case Manager, the parent’s ability to participate actively in treatment even with reasonable accommodations

4. No chronic or terminal medical condition(s) requiring extensive medical treatment that would substantially limit, in the professional opinion of the parent’s health care provider, the parent’s ability to participate actively in treatment even with reasonable accommodations

5. No violent behavior, as determined by the Treatment Case Manager, that may put the parent or the Family Drug Court participants at risk of injury because of the parent’s participation in the program.

C. Graduation Requirements

 

The Family Drug Court Team reviews cases considered for graduation based on the parent completing the four phases of the program and completing each task to the satisfaction of the team members. Graduation is held quarterly. The following criteria must be met to be eligible for graduation from the program:

 

 

• Eight to twelve (12) month participation in the Family Drug Court program

• A minimum of six (6) consecutive months being alcohol and/or drug free

• Successful discharge from a substance abuse treatment program

• Documented consistent attendance at a 12-step aftercare program or community-based support program

• Stable housing which may be in a transitional housing program

• Outstanding arrest warrants resolved

• Children, if removed, are returned to the custody of the parent

• Parent has in place a support system and a relapse management plan

• A Life Plan is outlined in writing and initiated (i.e. further education, vocational training, employment, plans for the children’s education and the future)

• Parent agrees to 90 day case management services, if recommended by the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities after completion of the treatment program.

For additonal information about the Fulton County Drug Court and Fulton County Juvenile Court, please call (404) 224-4781.

Program Location

 

 

Family Drug Court

Fulton County Juvenile Court

395 Pryor Street, S.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30312

Telephone: (404) 224-4781

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5:30 PM

 

For more information about the Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, please visit our website at: www.livebetterfulton.org.