In Polk County, Iowa, Family Recovery Court offers support for parents with substance use disorders. Judge Brent Pattison leads the court. Recently, the court gave 14 mothers $50 supermarket gift cards. Donations funded the cards to help families affected by a federal government shutdown that impacted SNAP benefits. The court aims to encourage participants and build community.
Family Recovery Court is a voluntary program. It helps parents work toward sobriety and reunification with their children. Unlike traditional juvenile courts, participants meet with the judge weekly. This regular contact supports accountability and ongoing assistance. Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham, who worked with the program from 2018 to 2022, said frequent meetings are important for the program’s outcomes.
The program serves 20 to 25 parents, including both mothers and fathers. Eligible parents have a Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) case where substance use is the main issue. Participants move through five phases, each focused on building skills for recovery. Each phase is expected to last about 60 days, but the timeline can be adjusted for individual needs…