TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT
FAMILY DIVISION
FAMILY DEPENDENCY TREATMENT COURT
PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK
FAMILY DEPENDENCY TREATMENT COURT
Welcome to the Saginaw County Family Dependency Treatment Court. We hope this handbook answers a lot of your questions... If it does not or you do not understand something please ask for help.
If you are in the program, you will be expected to follow all of the rules and directions given to you by the Judge and treatment team. Your success will largely depend on your commitment to the program and services. A positive attitude is very important.
How long you are in the program depends on how well you do. The program may include: rehab, supervision, court hearings, drops, parenting classes, counseling and help with housing and employment. Your (clean) family and close (clean) friends will be very helpful in, and important to, your success and getting your kids back.
Getting your kids back is not guaranteed because you are in the program or even if you graduate from it. However, because of the extra services and your extra work the chances are much better.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Program has different parts: there is a Program Orientation, Three Phases and Graduation/Moving On. Each part has goals and requirements that build upon the earlier ones. Plan on participating in rehab, parenting, counseling, a lot of court hearings and hopefully coming out of the program clean and having your children returned.
Program Orientation (approximately one week)
You will:
Ø Meet with the Program Coordinator
Ø Sign the program contract and fill in the forms
Ø Get a notebook for appointments and contacts (you will be required to have the note book at all appointments and hearings)
Ø Watch a court hearing
Ø Purchase a copy of the Alcoholic Anonymous Big Book and/or Narcotics Anonymous Book
Phase One: (minimum of 12 weeks) The goal is to get you clean.
You will:
Ø Come to court every Wednesday at 10:30 am
Ø Do rehab/treatment
Ø Drop at least 3 times per week.
Ø Attend group meetings as instructed
Ø Anything else that the judge or team asks you to do
Phase Two: (minimum of 12 weeks) The goal is to continue what you did in Phase one, stay clean and add parenting and building healthy relationships.
You will:
Ø Continue with Phase One
Ø Come to court every other week
Ø Attend parenting classes
Ø Take part in your kids education and medical care
Ø Work on time management
Ø Learn how to make better choices for yourself and family
Ø Write a summary of your goals (short term and long term)
Ø Prepare and autobiography to be presented to the judge before being promoted to phase 3
Phase Three: (minimum of 12 weeks) The goal is to stay clean, show you can make good choices in life and deal with the stress of being a parent.
You will:
Ø Continue with Phase One and Two
Ø Keep coming to court
Ø Get housing and keep it clean
Ø Get a job
Ø Create a safety Plan
Ø Sign a release of information allowing the team to confirm your contacts with your sponsor
Ø Develop a budget for you and your family
Ø Prepare a Relapse Prevention Plan to be presented in court
GRADUATION / MOVING ON
You will hopefully graduate from the Program. Graduation does not mean you are done. Together we will work to help you hold onto and keep up with all you have accomplished. We will also be asking that you help with new participants in the program. Your court case and DHS case may remain open for 6 additional months.
TREATMENT COURT HEARINGS
You must come to all required hearings. (WARNING) there are a lot of hearings. At the hearings, the Judge you and the other team members will be discussing how you are doing and what help you need. A doctor’s slip will be required for illness related absences. If you miss a hearing without permission or are constantly late to the hearings you will likely have a warrant issued for your arrest. You must dress appropriately for all hearings. Please talk to any of the team if you have questions about this. No children are allowed in the courtroom. Please make arrangements for their care when you must be in court.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DO WELL?
From time to time you may get incentives for trying extra hard and doing well in the program. You may receive:
J Applause and a pat on the back from the Judge and Treatment Team
J Not having to go to court as often
J Having past sanctions lifted
J Books for you and/or your children
J Cameras for use at visits with your kids
J Gift certificates for family activities like, movies, videos, restaurants and stores
Neither the Court nor the Treatment team is required to give rewards or incentives. You must show them that you are really committed to the program and doing well. Just showing up as required and not showing you care will not be rewarded.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I SCREW UP?
Try not to, but if you do screw up, things go from bad to worse. Sanctions can include the following among other things:
L Written reports to the court regarding what you did wrong
L Your being required to write about what you did wrong
L Watching an educational video and writing a report about it
L Having to come to court more often
L Drop more times each week
L Community service hours
L Tether
L Jail
N You can be kicked out of the program for the following reasons:N
M Picking up a criminal charge for doing something violent
M New allegations of violence or sexual abuse of a child
M You quit
M Having a bad attitude about the program and/or willful breaking of the rules
MEDICATIONS
If you are on any medications prescribed by a doctor, you will need to inform the team. If prescribed meds show-up in the drops and you have not informed the team in advance, you will be considered dirty. You will also need to inform your doctors of your addiction before accepting any prescriptions.
It is also against the rules to drink alcohol or misuse over the counter drugs.
GENERAL RULES
Ø Be on time and stay for the whole appointment, meeting or hearing.
Ø Don’t miss an appointment, meeting or hearing without prior permission
Ø Wear appropriate clothes for court; clean, non-offense and covering your self. The judge and team will tell you if your clothes offend. It will be better for you it they don’t have to.
Ø Don’t mess with drops
Ø Be respectful when others are testifying; don’t talk unless it is your turn
Ø Don’t eat, drink or chew gum in court
Ø Turn your phone off
Ø Don’t lie or hold back important information
Ø Tell the team who you live with, where you live and how to get in touch with you.
Ø Stay away from people that use or have drugs and/or alcohol
Ø Work to get along with other parents in the program and on the team.
You will be going to court for your regular Neglect Abuse hearings at least every three months. Your participation in this FDTC will help you in being successful in those hearings and in hopefully keeping you kids or getting them back.. The Federal law does limit the amount of time you have to show success.
WE BELIEVE IN YOU OR WE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED YOU FOR THE PROGRAM. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
GET TO WORK AND GOOD LUCK.
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