This INFOCUS issue for April 2022 reports on the funding, training, and technical assistance that the Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides for drug courts that help youth and their families address the effects of substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Since 2007, OJJDP has provided approximately more than $143 million to establish or expand juvenile drug treatment courts, family drug courts, and Tribal juvenile healing to wellness courts. Juvenile drug treatment courts provide treatment services for youth with substance abuse problems. Family drug court programs serve parents and guardians who require treatment for a substance abuse disorder and are involved with a child welfare system as a result of child abuse or neglect. Tribal healing to wellness courts use culturally informed approaches that promote accountability, healing, and Tribal identity for Native-American youth younger than age 21. In order to improve the effectiveness of drug courts, OJJDP funds also support research, training, and technical assistance. An example of the use of OJJDP's assistance for a family drug treatment court focuses on Guam's first such court, which was established in November 2017 with OJJDP funding.