Increasing family reunification for substance-abusing mothers and their children: Comparing two drug court interventions in Miami

This study provides a quasi-experimental test of 80 consecutive enrollments in the Miami-Dade (Florida) Dependency Drug Court in order to examine the impact of a family-based and gender specific intervention, Engaging Moms Program (EMP), on drug court graduation and family reunification. We compared EMP with case management services (CMS). Results indicated that 72% of mothers in the EMP graduated from drug court, and 70% were reunified with their children. In contrast, 38% of mothers receiving CMS graduated from drug court, and 40% were reunited with their children. EMP, then, appears to be a promising family drug court intervention.