FamilyLawTreatmentCourt
AmotherofafiveyearoldgirlwasreferredtotheFamilyLaw TreatmentCourt(FLTC)programbyapriorgraduate.TheFLTC coordinatorconductedanintakeonthemotherwhodisclosed thatshehadaveryunhealthyrelationshipwithalcoholand prescriptionmedication,suchascodeineandXanax.Themother wasveryforthcomingaboutherrecoveryandwascurrentlyliving ataTransitionalHousingUnitinMariposa.Themotherstated shewasalsoreceivingmentalhealthtreatmentandhad concernsabouthermedicationinterveningwithherdrugtesting. Shewashesitantabouttestingtwotimesaweekbutunderstood thatinordertobecleanandsobersheneededtostarttesting immediately.Themotherhadjointcustodyofherchildbuthad recentlyrelapsedinfrontofherchildandlostvisitationrights.
OnceinFLTC,themotherwasreferredforsubstanceabuse treatmentservicesforanoutpatientassessmentandshewas givenFIRST5resourcessuchasinformationonCalmingKits andCOVIDreferrals.Themotherutilizedtheresourcesandfee waivertowaivehertestingfee.After120daysthemotherwas eligiblefora120-dayreviewandwasgrantedunsupervised visitation.Themotherwasalsocompliantwiththeprogramand shenevermissedadrug/alcoholtest.
ThemotherparticipatedintheTriplePParentingclassandthe POWER12StepsWomen’sgroup.Themothertookthe parentingclassnotonlybecauseshewasorderedtotakea parentingclassbutbecauseshewantedtobeableto communicatewithherdaughterbetter.Themothergraduatedin January2021andnearhergraduation,shewasgrantedjoint custodyagain.
“FLTChasgivenmestructureduringmyfirstyearof sobriety.Ifounditencouragingandagreatwayto showaccountabilitytofamilycourt.Iamgratefulthat thereisthisserviceavailabletothosewhocan benefit.Ifoundalotofhealingworkingwithmy sponsortocompletethesteps.Themeetingswerea safeplacetogotoconnectandfindsolutionsto dealingwithlifeonlife’sterms.Iwillcontinue serviceworktogivebacktotheprogramthathelped mesomuch.Thankyou.”
FamilyLawTreatmentCourt
TheparticipantenrolledinFamilyLawTreatmentCourt(FLTC)in May2019afterbeingreferredfromanemergencyscreeningwith FamilyCourtServices.WhentheparticipantbeganFLTC,hehad professionalsupervisedvisitsonlywithhisfivechildrenandhe hadahigh-conflictrelationshipwithhischildren'smother.This washisfirsttimeinanytypeofrecoveryprogram.Theparticipant wascourtorderedtotakeco-parentingclasses,parentingwithout violence,DUIclasses,andadheretoallFLTCrequirements.
TheparticipantwasconnectedtotheCourtCareCoordinator, FIRST5FamilyResourceCenter,PositiveParentingworkshops, anddevelopmentalandbehavioralhealthscreeningforchildren. AtintaketheclientwasgiventhebookfromFIRST5aswellas anAlcoholicsAnonymousbookandwaslatergivenareferralto amen’sAA12-weekprogram.Helateradmittedthathehada problemwithalcoholandwasabingedrinker,notjustasocial drinker.AfterfourmonthsinFLTC,theparticipantgraduated fromtheprogram,hasabetterrelationshipwithhischildrenand theirmom,andnowispermittedtohaveunsupervisedvisitswith hiskids.
Theparticipantindicatedthattheparentingclasshashadan impactonhiscommunicationwithhisexandhehaslearnedto listentohiskidsbetter.Heisalsonowabletoseethateach individualchildmayhaveparticularneedsthattheyexpectto havemet.Hestatesthathehasspokentootheryoungdadslike himandtheynowhaveagoodsupportsystemaroundthem wheretheycansharetheirstruggles/concernsinregardtotheir children.
“Icameintotheprogramcluelessaboutwhatactive recoverymeant.Thisprogramhasallowedmetobe accountableformysobrietyandwhenlifebecomes tough,I’velearnedtorespondandnotreacttomyold behaviors.WhenIstartedtheprogram,Ihadano contactorderwithmychildren’smomandallfiveof mychildren.Inowhaveagoodstandingrelationship withmychildren’smomandgettoseeallmykids unsupervisedandsometimesovernight.Ihavealmost 18monthsofsobrietyandthisprogramhasplayeda bigroleinmyrecovery.Ichosetostaycleanand soberandremainactiveinmysponsorshipofothers.”
FamilyLawTreatmentCourt
TheparticipantenrolledinFamilyLawTreatmentCourtin February2018,afterbeingreferredbyapreviousgraduatefrom theprogram.Theparticipantwasalsoapreviousclientwhohad withdrawnfromtheprogramtwoyearsprior.Shehadreceiveda DUIwhileworkingasa911dispatcheranddecideditwastimeto re-committoparticipationintheFLTCprogram.Theparticipant admittedtohavinganaddictiontoalcoholandprescription medication.Sheexpressedinterestintheprogramtogain healthycopingskillsandchangeherlifestyletohaveabetter relationshipwithherchildren.
Theparticipantunderstoodherneedtocommittosobrietyfora betterqualityoflife,becauseheraddictionwasimpactingher careerandrelationshipwithhertwochildren.Shewastested randomly2timesperweekfordrugsandalcohol,andcompleted outpatientwiththeKaiserChemicalDependencyRecovery Program(CDRP).Theclientdidnothaveanymissedorpositive testsforthedurationofherinvolvementintheprogram.She receivedstarswhileinprogram,whichservedaspositive reinforcementtoencouragehertoremaincompliantwithall FLTCrequirements.
ShestatedthatparticipatinginprogramslikePromisesof WomenEmbracingRecovery(P.O.W.E.R)allowedhertocreate asupportnetworkforherselfbecauseshewasabletomeet otherswhohaveexperiencedsimilarobstaclesontheirjourney torecovery.Theparticipantoriginallyhadprofessional supervisedvisitsthatlaterledtoovernightunsupervisedvisits withherchildren.Maintainingsobriety(withafewminor setbacks)allowedtheclienttobegrantedjointlegalandphysical custodyofhertwoboys.
“FLTChelpedmebysupportingmeonmy journeyofrecovery.Wheneveranything poppedupinmylife,Noemiwasavailable forguidance.Sheiskind,empathetic,and verygoodatherjob.Iamgratefulforthe opportunitytobeinthisprogrambecauseit hasallowedmemoreunsupervisedtime withmyboys,(13and7).Iamveryactive intheirliveswithschoolandmedicaland myrelationshipwiththemcouldn’tbeany better.Theminor’scounselattorneyis leaningtowardsgivingmethe50/50 custody.”