The Family Wellness Court was officially established in December 2019, although the first families are just now entering the program. The goal is to have more than 10 families in the program after one year. The program was established through a grant from AOC (Administrative Office of Courts) through the funding for problem solving courts.

   There is a significant need for this program in Bibb County to help keep children out of foster care and to help return foster children to their homes. In a 5-year period from September 30, 2013 to September 30, 2018, the number of children in foster care in Bibb County increased 1,600 percent. Bibb County currently has the fourth highest rate of removal of any county in Alabama and caretaker drug abuse is the primary cause in 70 percent of those cases (we were second a year ago). Bibb County sees reports of child abuse and neglect that are more than 2.5 times the State average.

   The goal of the Bibb County Family Wellness Court (FWC) is to provide a mechanism to help primary custodians live a drug-free life and assume the full responsibilities of parenting their children. This program provides early intervention and immediate treatment to parents who abuse substances and willingly commit to cooperate with the program. This program will provide heightened supervision of the Court and therapeutic intervention by the Family Wellness Court Coordinator working in conjunction with the DHR Social Worker, treatment service providers, and peer support systems.

   The program has 4 treatment phases and the entire program lasts about one year. There are incentives and sanctions that include verbal praise, reduced supervision requirements, reduced restrictions, increased visitation, recognition in court, verbal admonishments, increased supervision requirements, phase demotion, jail sanctions, and termination.