Predicting substance use treatment completion & reunification among family treatment court-involved parent–child dyads

Abstract

ABSTRACT Through intensive, treatment-focused interdisciplinary practice, family treatment courts (FTC) offer a speedier pathway to reunification for families with substance use disorder in the foster care system compared to traditional settings. Less is known regarding differences in outcomes among FTC participants on the basis of clinical risk and need characteristics. We analyzed parent–child dyads in a rural Midwestern FTC program to understand the effect of these key variables on successful treatment completion and family reunification. Results revealed that treatment completion was more likely for parents who reported greater frequency of methamphetamine use in the 30 days prior to treatment entry and less likely for parents who reported more trauma symptoms. Longer time to treatment start from child removal date was associated with a very small increased likelihood of treatment completion as well. Reunification was significantly more likely for parents employed at treatment entry and those who spent more days in treatment. Reunification was less likely for parents who reported more social support and more trauma symptoms at treatment entry. Taken together, these findings suggest that FTC are effective for parents with methamphetamine use disorder, but may see improved outcomes when providing increased supports for parents with severe trauma symptoms.