More Centres To Open In Regions Including West Yorkshire

Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC) which help parents deal with addiction so they can support their children are set to be extended, with more centres opening across a number of regions.

While such services are already available in London, Gloucestershire and Milton Keynes, they are set to be made available further afield in areas including West Yorkshire, East Sussex, Kent and Medway and Plymouth.

According to the BBC, the FDAC service extension funded by the Department for Education will allow parents to access support for their addictions via an intensive programme – with the ultimate priority to ensure they are able to care for their children going forward.

Research by Brunel University found that 35 per cent of mothers seen by the London-based FDAC were able to tackle their addictions through the use of the service.

Expert Opinion

This development is to be welcomed. The initiative came about as a result of the court’s frustration at seeing children removed from their families as a result of their parents’ drug or alcohol misuse, without steps being taken to address the underlying issues. <br/> <br/>"The new court aims to keep more families together but it is not a soft option for parents and the welfare of children remains the primary focus. Until the underlying issues have been addressed any children will be cared for by foster carers or other family members. <br/> <br/>"The court will work with specialist therapists and other experts to help parents overcome their addictions, supported by rigorous testing to ensure they remain substance free. Only when the court is satisfied that the risk to any children is manageable will they be returned to their parent’s care. This should enable more children to benefit from being raised in their birth family."