This two-year evaluation of the first Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) in Wales aimed to support the delivery and development of FDAC in Wales, and enable a rigorous large-scale evaluation in future.
Overview
The UK’s first FDAC was piloted in London between 2008 and 2011, and the model is widely deemed to be successful in reducing the number of children in care through family reunification. As a result, FDAC in the UK has been growing steadily, with 16 FDAC teams currently working in 24 courts and serving 37 local authorities. Cardiff and Vale is Wales’ first FDAC. Through this evaluation, we are aiming to support the effective delivery of FDAC in Wales, set the scene for a larger-scale evaluation, fill gaps in our understanding and update our theory of how FDAC works to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
Activities and Methods
This was a mixed-methods, realist evaluation in three phases, running from November 2021 – January 2024.
Phase 1: This phase included interviews with professional stakeholders as the pilot was being established, in order to ascertain their expectations for the pilot, experiences of its set-up, and identify barriers and facilitators of the implementation of FDAC in Wales. Simultaneously, carried out a policy and research review.
Phase 2: We interviewed families and professional stakeholders, in addition to observing court hearings, at various time points throughout proceedings. Qualitative data obtained during this phase was be used to produce, test and refine updated versions of a previously developed programme theory in iterative cycles using realist synthesis.
Phase 3: We conducted follow up interviews with the same families involved in Phase 2 (as far as possible). We also analysed quantitative data collected by the FDAC site and finalised our programme theory of how FDAC works in Wales.
Findings
Interim findings
Full evaluation findings
Lead Person
| Principal Investigator | David Westlake |
Academic Staff
| Co-Investigator | Melissa Meindl |
Related Information
| Funders | Centre for Justice Innovation, Welsh Government |