Increasing Family Reunification for Substance-Abusing Mothers and Their Children: Comparing Two Drug Court Interventions in Miami

• NCJ Number: 255589
• Journal: Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Dated: 2009 Pages: 11-23
• Author(s): Gayle A. Dakof; Jeri B. Cohen; Eliette Duarte
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study conducted a quasi-experimental test of 80 consecutive enrollments in the Miami-Dade (Florida) Dependency Drug Court, in order to examine the impact of a family-based and gender-specific intervention, Engaging Moms Program (EMP), on drug court graduation and family reunification.

Abstract

The effects of EMP were compared with those of case management services (CMS). Results indicated that 72 percent of mothers in the EMP graduated from drug court, and 70 percent were reunified with their children. In contrast, 38 percent of mothers receiving CMS graduated from drug court, and 40 percent were reunited with their children. The study concluded that EMP is apparently a promising family drug court intervention. (publisher abstract modified)