Research from CASCADE, Cardiff University’s Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre, has been referenced in the Senedd during a discussion on the future of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs) in Wales.
During questions to the Counsel General, Rhys ab Owen MS highlighted the potential benefits of the FDAC approach and referred to evidence from CASCADE’s evaluation of the Welsh pilot. He noted that the pilot was found to have been broadly successful in our study, and pointed to evidence that the approach has helped reunite children with their families and has demonstrated success in other parts of the UK.
Family Drug and Alcohol Courts offer an alternative to standard care proceedings for families where parental substance misuse is a factor. The model combines judicial oversight with intensive treatment and support, aiming to help parents address drug and alcohol misuse while improving outcomes for children and families.
CASCADE led the evaluation of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court pilot in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, which ran between 2021 and 2023. The study explored how the pilot was implemented, how it was experienced by families and professionals, and whether the approach shows potential for wider roll-out across Wales.
The evaluation forms part of a growing evidence base examining how problem-solving approaches within the family justice system can better support parents to overcome substance misuse while safeguarding children.
As discussions continue about the future of the model in Wales, CASCADE’s research is helping to inform national policy conversations about how best to support families involved in care proceedings.
Read more about the evaluation: