NEW FAMILY TREATMENT COURT ADDRESSES DRUG, ALCOHOL
ISSUES

More than one-half of the parents of dependent and neglected children
admitted abusing alcohol and drugs, reported the Court Appointed
Special Advocate of Rutherford County.

Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport removes
about three to six children from their parents' custody each week.

CASA volunteers work for the best interest of the child by making
recommendations about the child's welfare to Davenport. Of 255
children served by CASA, 156 parents were identified with substance
abuse problems.

"Drug issues are some of our worst issues," Davenport said. "It's on
the incline. We need something more intense for parents to be involved
with the court than once every three months as dictated by the statute."

Director Mary Schneider of the Rutherford-Cannon County Drug Court
worked with Davenport to create a Family Treatment Court for parents
of dependent and neglected children.

Funding for the court will be taken from the Juvenile Drug Court
program that disbanded because of lack of interest and commitment. The
program is funded by grants.

Starting in January, a maximum of 25 parents identified with drug and
alcohol problems may volunteer for the program with the goal of being
reunited with their children.

"If they choose not to do it, they don't get their child back,"
Schneider said. "That's the carrot in this one."

Family Treatment Court members include attorneys who primarily
practice in Juvenile Court, Department of Children's Services workers
and CASA Director Susan Maguigan.

Parents will be given assignments. A case manager will monitor those
assignments and set up appointments for counseling, parenting classes
and other services. Parents will have supervised visitation with their
children.

"Maybe we can stop the cycle of their kids going into foster care,"
Schneider said of the program. "We can reach parents while their
children are young and produce better parents."

Davenport said she will meet with the parents enrolled in the family
court each week. They will undergo treatment plans she will review.

If successful and parents become clean and sober, they can provide
their children with a safe, stable home, she said. If they don't
succeed, they face losing their parental rights and their children
will be adopted.

Another benefit is the child shouldn't have to spend as much time in
foster care.

While training, Schneider said the Family Treatment Court team
observed a similar court in Nashville that experiences a lot of
success with the parents.

"The referee there has an interesting philosophy," Schneider said,
quoting him, "Even if what we do leads to termination (of parental
rights), it's still a success because it provides permanency for the
child."