Phase 1: Seedling

Engagement and Assessment

This initial phase focuses on engaging the parent in Family Treatment Court (FTC) and ensuring a comprehensive, evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) assessment is completed as quickly as possible following enrollment. During this phase, the FTC Specialist begins close coordination with the Department of Child Safety (DCS) Specialist to understand the case plan and ensure regular, consistent family time is established whenever appropriate.

The FTC Specialist also works to learn about each child involved in the case and identify services needed to support their well-being.

Potential Milestones:

• Parent engagement in FTC
• Completion of SUD assessment
• Coordination with DCS
• Establishment of consistent family time
• Identification of children’s service needs

Phase 2: Sprout

Stabilization and Service Coordination

During the Sprout phase, the parent is actively engaged in SUD treatment. After a period of stability, the FTC team collaborates with the parent to coordinate case plan services in a way that is sustainable and manageable alongside treatment demands.

The team assesses how each child is doing and supports the parent in learning how to advocate for their children’s needs across systems.

Potential Milestones:

• Engagement and stabilization in SUD treatment
• Coordinated, individualized case plan services
• Increased parental advocacy for children
• Ongoing assessment of child well-being

Phase 3: Roots

Building Long-Term Recovery Foundations

In the Roots phase, the focus shifts to strengthening the foundation needed for long-term recovery and family stability. Parents begin planning for housing and employment necessary to support themselves and their children. Case plan services may be in various stages of completion, including SUD treatment, counseling, and parenting programs.

Any remaining services are initiated as part of the case plan, and parents are expected to consistently attend appointments for their children. Readiness to safely transition to unsupervised parenting time is assessed, and parenting time is increased whenever appropriate.

Potential Milestones:

• Progress toward stable housing and employment
• Advancement or completion of case plan services
• Increased and potentially unsupervised parenting time
• Demonstrated parenting skills and recovery-supportive decision-making

Phase 4: Sapling

Strengthening Independence and Relapse Preparedness

During the Sapling phase, parents may be participating in unsupervised parenting time. Some services may successfully close, while SUD treatment may step down to lower levels of care, such as recovery maintenance or community support groups.

Parents are developing educational or vocational skills and securing or exploring stable housing. A strong relapse prevention and recovery plan is in place, and parents demonstrate their ability to safely implement that plan if a relapse occurs.

Potential Milestones:

• Successful unsupervised parenting time
• Step-down in treatment intensity
• Educational or vocational progress
• Demonstrated relapse response planning
• Active participation in children’s services

Phase 5: Strong Branches and Bark

Family Stability and Community Integration

In the final phase, children may be reunified or spending substantial unsupervised time with their parent. The parent demonstrates strong protective capacities, effective parenting skills, and the ability to navigate community resources independently. A healthy recovery network is established to support long-term family stability.

Potential Milestones:

• Reunification or sustained unsupervised parenting time
• Stable housing and income
• Completion of services
• Strong recovery support network
• Demonstrated long-term protective capacities