The Family Drug and Alcohol Court will work with families where there is drug abuse. Its aim is to stop children being taken into care, or allow them to return to their families if this has already happened.
To achieve this the court will give intensive support to families, and also refer them to local services.
The three-year pilot is costing over £1.3m, and is being led by the London boroughs of Camden, Islington, and Westminster.
Two thirds of the care proceedings issued by these councils are related to parental substance misuse, so officials are keen to consider alternatives.
The idea for the specialist drug and alcohol court came from America, where it has been used successfully. The councils worked with Brunel University to lobby government for support and funding.
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