The Impact of Engagement on Child Welfare Families Involved with Family Treatment Drug Courts

Family Treatment Drug Courts are multidisciplinary teams that engage child welfare families in substance use treatment and reunification court services. This quasi-experimental study evaluates the impact of engagement strategies with 36 participants. Participants experienced high levels of engagement with the court, child welfare workers, and their clinical providers. There were significant differences in engagement by race as well. Participants who successfully graduated the program had higher rates of engagement compared to those who dropped out. This study demonstrates the importance of measuring engagement with multiple providers for client success. Implications for practice and research are discussed.