Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation

Status: complete


The evaluation examined the effectiveness of family drug treatment courts in four court settings. The study employed a multi-method, quasi-experimental research design to document whether family treatment drug courts are more effective than traditional court settings in helping parents achieve sobriety and increasing the frequency of successful parent-child reunification.

The study investigated the key mediators of program success, including the effect of family treatment drug courts on treatment access, treatment completion, parent motivation, child and family well-being and other key mediators.

The study involved administrative data collection from court, child welfare, and treatment records as well as interview data collection with a subset of parents involved with the family treatment drug courts. The Suffolk and Washoe County evaluation used a within-county comparison group design, while the California evaluation design relied upon a time series analysis using comparison county data.

Project Team

Co-Principal Investigators

Michael Finigan, Ph.D.

Beth Green, Ph.D.

Research Staff

Jennifer Aborn, B.A.

Reports and Publications:

Worcel, S. D., Furrer, C. J., Green, B. L., Burrus, S. W. M., & Finigan, M. W. (Nov. 2008) Effects of family treatment drug courts on substance abuse and child welfare outcomes Child Abuse Review, 17(6), 427-443.

Green, B. L., Finigan, M. W., Worcel, S. D., Furrer, C. J., Burrus, S. W. M., Aborn, J. A., & Jones, B. (June 2007) Are Family Treatment Drug Courts Effective? Results from a four site national study NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Powerpoint /

Worcel, S. D., Green, B. L., Furrer, C. J., Burrus, S. W. M., Finigan, M. W. (March 2007) Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation: Final Report NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Report / Executive Summary / Key Outcome Findings /

Green, B. L., Worcel, S. D., & Finigan, M. W. (June 2006) Family Treatment Drug Court National Evaluation Overview & Phase 1 Preliminary Results. NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Powerpoint /

Green, B. L. (June 2006) Making Your Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation Work. NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Powerpoint /

Worcel, S. D., Furrer, C. J., Green, B. L., & Rhodes, B. (June 2006) Family Treatment Drug Court Evaluation Final Phase I Study Report. NPC Research: Portland, OR.
Report /