STARSProgram
Program Information
The Specialized Treatment Recovery Services (STARS) program provides case management and support for parents involved with Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS), Early Intervention Family Treatment Court (EIFTC), and Dependency Family Treatment Court (DFTC). As a participant in this program, parents receive guided assistance in meeting their court-mandated drug and alcohol treatment, testing, and support groups.
Nationally recognized for superior collaboration with CPS, Courts, and local community providers, studies show that participants in STARS drastically improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.
- 98% of children remain in the home for those parents engaged with EIFTC.
- Family reunification rates are 72% for those families engaged with DFTC. (California State average is 31%)
- Children’s length of stay in foster care has significantly decreased, resulting in an average of $23M in savings per year to Sacramento County.
- Parents involved in STARS are twice as likely to successfully complete substance use treatment.
Dependency Family Treatment Court
Parents are ordered to Dependency Family Treatment Court for not meeting CPS and court requirements which may have resulted in children being removed from the home.
Parents engaged with STARS are assigned a Recovery Specialist who provides case management to guide the parent through their court mandated requirements. This includes: drug testing, substance use treatment, support group meeting attendance, legal obligations, and referrals to community resources.
Of those parents who participate in DFTC and STARS program, 72% reunified with their children within 12 months (compared to 43% for Sacramento County and 31% for all California whose parents did not participate).
Early Intervention Family Treatment Court
The Early Intervention Family Treatment Court is a voluntary program for mothers and their partners. The goal is for children to remain in the home with parents who comply with EIFTC and CPS requirement. STARS assigns a Recovery Specialist to provide encouragement and accountability for drug testing, completing treatment, and attending recovery meetings.
Over 3000 parents and 4000 children have been served since the inception of EIFTC in 2008. The Sacramento County EIFTC is only 1 of 5 early intervention family court programs in the United States and is recognized for our successful program model and positive outcomes.
Learn more about the STARS Impact
- NPR: California Court Helps Kids By Healing Parents’ Addictions
- The Imprint: STARS Program Helps Drug Court, Families Align
- Counselor Magazine: A Family-Centered Approach as Prevention for Substance Use
- Family and Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, “A Family-Centered Program to Break the Cycle of Addiction”
- The STARS program is also linked to the Bridges Celebrating Families program.
