Expectations for all phases
Court Sessions: You need to come to all of your scheduled Family Treatment Court sessions.
Court Orders: The Court will issue an Order after each session that summarizes your progress and tells you what you need to do. You must follow these Orders to move to the next Phase. If you need help understanding any Orders you can contact the FTC Coordinator, your Recovery Coach, the Probation Office, or your lawyer.
Sobriety and Honesty: You must always strive to maintain sobriety and be honest about any struggles you are having so the team can support you.
Drug and Alcohol Testing: There will be random tests during your participation with the FTC. If you have any questions about testing, you can contact the Probation Office or the FTC Coordinator.
Moving Phases: Each phase has a goal with tasks. As you make progress on the tasks the team will make a recommendation to the Judge about moving to the next phase. This will not include returning to an earlier phase. You will have the opportunity in the court session to talk with the Judge about your progress and about moving to the next phase.
Phase 1 overview
Phase 1: Establishing a New Routine
Phase 1 Length: Approximately 6 weeks
Phase 1 Goal: Getting used to the Family Treatment Court routine.
Phase 1 Tasks
Assessments and Orientation: Meet with the Family Treatment Court Clinician and Coordinator to complete an intake and assessment. Answering their questions will help them understand what you need. They will also help you understand how the program works.
Consent/Release Forms: Sign releases that allow the team to communicate with your other treatment, healthcare, and service providers, so that everyone has up to date information about your care. Your attorney can help you with these releases if you have any questions.
Family Treatment Court Plan: Meet with the Clinician to create a treatment plan that focuses on your needs and recovery goals. This plan may change as your needs change in recovery.
Recovery Coach: Get to know your Recovery Coach and schedule regular times to get together.
Family Treatment Court Manual: Review the Family Treatment Court Manual for Parents with your Recovery Coach.
Recovery Support Group: Work with your Recovery Coach to find a recovery support group that you like (AA, NA, Smart Recovery, etc.). These groups offer community, extra support, and connection for parents in recovery. Be ready to report to the Court which group you have chosen. The Court will require you to attend a certain number of meetings per week and may require you to share your thoughts about the meetings. These are called “reflections.”
Phase 1 Personal Statement
As part of moving to the next Phase, you will present a personal statement in court. This is an essay to help you think about how you are changing in recovery. There are many ways this can be done. Your Recovery Coach will help you do this in a way that works for you.
The goal of the Phase 1 statement is to help you understand how your thinking about your life and your sobriety have changed since you’ve joined the Family Treatment Court and how this will affect how you parent. The Judge will give you the specific question when the team recommends that you are ready to move to the next phase.
Phase 2 overview
Phase 2: Wellness Through Treatment
Phase 2 Length: Approximately 12 weeks
Phase 2 Goals: Focus on taking care of your body and mind. Make healthy choices for you and your family. Make therapy, peer support groups, and recovery support meetings a regular part of your life. Think about how they help you stay on track and get better. Begin thinking about how a sober community can support your recovery.
Phase 2 Tasks
Make Healthcare a Priority: It's important to take care of all aspects of your health. Find a doctor and a dentist if you don't have one yet. Make appointments for check-ups before Phase 3 ends.
Recovery Support: Your Recovery Coach continues to be an important part of your recovery in Phase 2. Stay in regular communication with them and attend all groups that they lead. Find a recovery support group sponsor or mentor you trust and connect with. They will play an important role in supporting your recovery now and in the future.
Safety Planning: Safety plans keep you and your loved ones safe in tough situations. A safety plan is a guide that helps you handle difficult moments or times when you might feel overwhelmed. It includes steps you can take to keep safe and cope with challenging situations. During this phase you will begin working on a safety plan for you and your family. Your therapist and Recovery Coach can help you.
Phase 2 Personal Statement
As part of moving to the next Phase, you will present a personal statement in court. There are many ways this can be done. Your Recovery Coach will help you do this in a way that works for you.
The goal of the Phase 2 personal statement is to help you understand how taking care of your mind and body has helped your recovery and how it will affect how you parent. The Judge will give you the specific question when the team recommends that you are ready to move to the next phase.
Phase 3 overview
Phase 3: Creating a Recovery Community to Support You as a Parent
Phase 3 Length: Approximately 12 weeks
Phase 3 Goal: Parenting in recovery happens within a community. Making friends who are also in recovery is really important, especially other parents in recovery. In this Phase, you'll grow your group of people who help you stay on track. You will connect with community resources for more support. You're building a strong team to help you and your family lead a life in recovery.
Phase 3 Tasks
Recovery Support: Continue to meet regularly with your Recovery Coach and begin meeting regularly with your Sponsor or Mentor. Play an active role in your recovery support group. Talk to your Recovery Coach and Sponsor/Mentor about other community recovery resources.
Update Treatment Plan/Assessments: Meet with the Family Treatment Court Clinician to update your treatment plan. You’ve grown and changed since you started, so the Clinician might do additional assessments to help support your progress in recovery.
Be a Model for Other Family Treatment Court Participants: Model honesty, participation, and engagement for new participants.
Expand your Understanding of your Children’s Needs and your Role in Meeting Them: As much as possible, participate in meeting your children’s current medical, dental, educational, developmental, mental health appointments and needs.
Family Needs: Think about your family’s needs for transportation, employment, housing, and income and how the FTC can support you in making referrals.
Phase 3 Personal Statement
As part of moving to the next Phase, you will present a personal statement in court. There are many ways this can be done. Your Recovery Coach will help you do this in a way that works for you.
The goal of the Phase 3 personal statement is to help you think about what you have learned about yourself and your children and how this will affect you and your parenting. The Judge will give you the specific question when the team recommends that you are ready to move to the next phase.
Phase 4 overview
Phase 4: Building a Life in Recovery for You and Your Family
Phase 4 Length: Approximately 12 weeks
Phase 4 Goal: Show how much you're committed to staying sober and parenting in recovery. Being involved in your community, making good friendships, and creating a healthy and meaningful routine for yourself and your family gives you a sense of purpose.
Phase 4 Tasks
Recovery Support: Continue to meet regularly with your Recovery Coach and begin meeting regularly with your Sponsor. Continue to play an active role in your self-help group. Become involved with community recovery resources. Many self-help groups have step programs to help people in recovery. If the self-help group you’ve chosen has a step program, in this Phase you will focus on your step work with help from your Recovery Coach or Sponsor.
Meaningful Daily Activities: Finding meaningful activities such as work, school, volunteering, or creative activities will help you build a healthy routine. Your Therapist, Recovery Coach, Sponsor/Mentor, and friends in recovery can help you find activities that you like and will feel good about incorporating into your life.
Children's Needs: Share with the FTC where you are with meeting your children’s medical, dental, educational, developmental, mental health appointments, and any other help you need before graduation.
Family Needs: Share with the FTC where you are with meeting family needs for transportation, employment, housing, income, and any further help you need before graduation.
Be a Model for Other Family Treatment Court Participants: Model honesty, participation, and engagement for new Family Treatment Court participants. New participants look to you for leadership.
Phase 4 Personal Statement
As part of moving to the next Phase, you will present a personal statement in court. There are many ways this can be done. Your Recovery Coach will help you do this in a way that works for you.
The goal of the Phase 4 essay is to help you think about your new recovery community, relationships and healthy living routines and how they support your parenting in recovery. The Judge will give you the specific question when the team recommends that you are ready to move to the next phase.
Phase 5 overview
Phase 5: Living into your Family’s Future
Length: Approximately 12 weeks
Phase 5 Goal: Move into a healthy life after graduation from Family Treatment Court with all that you’ve learned about yourself, your children, and your community. Get ready to maintain your recovery in your community AND take care of your health, your home, and your children.
Phase 5 Tasks
Recovery: Successful transition out of the FTC means you will take your recovery and the lessons/skills you’ve learned and carry them with you into the larger community.
Meet with the Family Treatment Court Clinician: Finalize a plan with the FTC Clinician to address your family’s ongoing needs. Given that substance use disorder is a chronic disease, discuss your safety plan with the Clinician including community supports you have in place. There will be final assessments to complete.
Family Treatment Court Alumni Group: Family Treatment Court Alumni Groups are for people who have graduated from the Family Treatment Court or are current members. These groups are helpful because everyone understands what it's like to go through the same changes and challenges. These groups are a place where you can share your successes, talk about tough times, and get advice from others who’ve been in your shoes. Being part of an alumni group gives you a chance to give back by helping others. It is a great way to stay connected, keep learning, and keep moving forward together. If your Family Treatment Court has an alumni group, attend a meeting prior to graduation. If there is not an alumni group, talk to your Recovery Coach about being part of creating one.
Give Back to the Community: Think about all you have learned in the Family Treatment Court and how much you have to offer to other people and parents in recovery. You are now a leader!
Graduation Personal Statement
As part of graduation, you will present a personal statement in court. There are many ways this can be done. Your Recovery Coach will help you do this in a way that works for you.
The goal of the graduation personal statement is to consider your history, and think about the future for both you and your family. Think about what tools and understanding you have now that you wish you had earlier. How can you share what you’ve learned with others? The Judge will give you the specific question when the team recommends that you are ready to graduate.