Foundations evaluation of FDAC

Commenting on Foundations evaluation of FDAC, ADCS President John Pearce said:

“Wherever possible children are best brought up within their own families, supported by local services to prevent problems from escalating. It is right to seek solutions within families and to sustain them where possible and where it is in the child’s best interests to do so, but their needs and rights must remain at the heart of everything that we do. The use of Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) proceedings is one such example where problem solving approaches can avoid care proceedings. This research from Foundations provides a welcome analysis of the value of FDAC which found that “families who participated in FDAC were significantly more likely to be reunified, and parents were more likely to stop misusing substances.” The value of problem solving arrangements, such as FDAC, are clear to see but the piecemeal nature of new funding has meant the benefits have been limited to a small number of local authorities. ADCS would welcome a shift in approach so that all local authorities were resourced to explore new ways of working and where there is evidence of what works, all were resourced to implement such models.”

ENDS

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