Family Recovery Court: Reuniting Families While Addressing Substance Use Disorder

Session Description: Family Recovery Court (FRC) represents a collaborative judicial approach that addresses parental substance use disorder while prioritizing child safety and family reunification. Operated through partnerships among family courts, child welfare agencies, treatment providers, and community organizations, FRC provides parents with structured recovery support, accountability, and coordinated services that address the root causes of family instability. This presentation will examine how Family Recovery Court transforms outcomes for families involved in the child welfare system by replacing fragmented service delivery with a comprehensive, team-based approach. Participants will learn how courts, treatment providers, peer support specialists, and child welfare professionals collaborate to create individualized recovery plans that support both parental recovery and child well-being. The session will highlight the use of trauma-informed practices, parenting interventions, treatment engagement strategies, and whole-family services that improve outcomes compared to traditional child welfare processes. Presenters will share lessons learned from implementation across Kentucky and discuss strategies for expanding Family Recovery Court into additional communities. Attendees will gain practical guidance for building partnerships, securing funding, collecting outcome data, and maintaining fidelity to the Family Recovery Court model. The presentation will emphasize both the human impact of family reunification and the broader public benefit of reducing foster care utilization, relapse, recidivism, and associated system costs.