Alcohol and substance abuse by parents or guardians in the United States is one of the leading risk factors for the safety and proper development of children. Statistics show that as many as 11% of children grow up in a family where at least one person is addicted to alcohol or psychoactive substances. Moreover, between 60 and 80% of cases of child abuse or neglect are related to substance abuse. In such families, the child’s needs are often pushed aside. This problem is therefore the second most common reason why children are taken away from their parents. Therefore, the children stay in alternative care centers.
Due to this problem, in the USA, actions have been taken at the federal level, which allow for the integration of the work of the court, the place of child care, and the system of treating an addicted person. Family Treatment Courts were created and established for families affected by substance abuse disorders. The author describes their activities, competences and goals that are intended to help prevent violence against or neglect of children.