In our society, family is the bedrock upon which communities are built.
The strength and stability of our families have a profound impact on the health and well-being of our communities, which is why it’s our duty as a community to uplift the ones who are struggling. It’s no secret that drug abuse has cast a long shadow over countless families all over New York state, and Saratoga County is no exception.
The newly relaunched Saratoga County Family Treatment Court (FTC) aims to help those struggling with addiction get the services they need while going through the family court system, addresses underlying issues and gives them a higher chance of success. The necessity of this court model is clear when looking at the numbers: in Saratoga County, around 5,000 petitions are filed annually, with a few hundred falling under Article 10 for child abuse and neglect.
Notably, 60% of these Article 10 petitions involve substance abuse allegations.
As a dedicated former family court prosecutor and current attorney for children, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of substance abuse on families in our region. The separation of children from their parents due to drug addiction is a heart-wrenching scenario that plays out all too often in our family courts.
The creation of the FTC represents a landmark moment in our community’s effort to combat the cycle of addiction and family disintegration. I am proud to be a staunch advocate of this program, and I want to share with you the reasons why I believe this initiative is a game-changer for Saratoga County.
First and foremost, the FTC recognizes substance abuse is not merely a criminal issue but a health crisis. By shifting the focus from punishment to rehabilitation, it provides parents who struggle with addiction a real chance at recovery while keeping families intact. The core philosophy is rooted in the belief it is in the best interest of the child to have a stable, loving family whenever possible.
One of the most significant strengths of the FTC is its multidisciplinary approach. This court brings together a team of professionals from various backgrounds, including judges, attorneys, social workers, counselors and treatment providers, all working together to support parents on their journey to recovery.
This comprehensive support network ensures parents have access to the resources they need to break free from the grip of addiction and works to create a safe, nurturing environment for their children.
We know substance abuse often co-occurs with mental health issues. The FTC will address those co-occurring issues too. Wrapping support and treatment, and acknowledging the whole person, will be critically important. In addition, an $800,000 federal grant supporting the FTC will provide resources to establish safe, quality supervised visitation services for parents in the program, which have been rare or non-existent in recent years.
Rather than opting for the immediate removal of children, the FTC’s goal is to reunify families as soon as it is safe to do so. This initiative does more than change the lives of individual families—it has the potential to reduce the burden on our already overtaxed foster care system. By keeping more families together, the FTC helps reduce the number of children in foster care, allowing social services to focus their resources on those cases where removal is truly necessary.
Thank you to all those involved in making the Family Treatment Court a reality in Saratoga County. The judges, attorneys, treatment providers and countless professionals who work tirelessly to reunite families and offer hope in the face of addiction deserve our deepest appreciation. I had the privilege of joining Hon. Amy Knussman, Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson, Sen. Jim Tedisco and several other prominent figures in Saratoga County to celebrate the opening day, during which we heard a touching story of success from a now-thriving graduate of the program.
There are already several parents who have enrolled in the program! I am thrilled to have this program in our county, and I am looking forward to hearing many more success stories!
Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh represents the 112th Assembly District, which consists of parts of Saratoga and Schenectady counties.
READER’S VIEW: Saratoga County’s new family treatment court brings hopes amidst substance abuse crisis
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29.10.2023
In our society, family is the bedrock upon which communities are built.
The strength and stability of our families have a profound impact on the health and well-being of our communities, which is why it’s our duty as a community to uplift the ones who are struggling. It’s no secret that drug abuse has cast a long shadow over countless families all over New York state, and Saratoga County is no exception.
The newly relaunched Saratoga County Family Treatment Court (FTC) aims to help those struggling with addiction get the services they need while going through the family court system, addresses underlying issues and gives them a higher chance of success. The necessity of this court model is clear when looking at the numbers: in Saratoga County, around 5,000 petitions are filed annually, with a few hundred falling under Article 10 for child abuse and neglect.
Notably, 60% of these Article 10 petitions involve substance abuse allegations.
As a dedicated former family court prosecutor and current attorney for children, I’ve witnessed firsthand the........
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