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Accessing Services
Forensic Services
Dependency Drug Court
Currently, Meridian operates three (4) Dependency Drug Courts (DDC):
- Columbia County -- the Columbia Dependency Drug Court (DDC) Program is a partnership between the 3rd Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Meridian.
- Suwannee County -- the Suwannee Dependency Drug Court (DDC) Program is a partnership between the 3rd Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Meridian.
- Alachua County -- the Alachua Dependency Drug Court (DDC) Program is a partnership between the 8th Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Meridian.
- Levy County – the Levy County Dependency Drug Court (DDC) Program is a partnership between the 8th Judicial Circuit, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Meridian. **Please note, this program is on schedule to begin during the winter of 2008.
The program provides intensive services for DCF Family Safety clients whose children have been adjudicated dependent and are at risk of termination of parental rights due to parental substance abuse. The Court takes a lead role in fostering parental participation in this program. Dependency cases require close controls and joint coordination to maintain the safety of clients' children. This is accomplished through weekly meetings of DDC liaison staff from Child Protection, the Court and Meridian.
A team, comprised at minimum of a Court representative or Judge, Defense Counsel, DCF Liaison, Meridian representative and State Attorney, reviews each case and establishes a treatment plan. The client then attends a hearing at which the Court presents and reinforces this plan. Where action is needed, responsible agencies ensure follow-through and report back to the team at subsequent meetings.
Treatment is intense with frequent court appearances and urinalysis designed to reinforce positive efforts. There are rewards for progress and negative sanctions for non-compliance. Under the auspices of the Court, child protection staff and the service provider plan interventions and sanctions and share information critical to child protection and treatment. Persons served must attend community 12 Step meetings and work with a sponsor, providing verification to the Court. This helps individuals build positive community supports essential to long term recovery. Team members are dedicated to providing parents an opportunity to overcome their substance addiction so they can maintain or regain a parental relationship with their children.