Coweta County Family Treatment Court Honored as Model Court by Georgia’s Judicial Council

The Coweta County Family Treatment Court’s team effort and dedication to the welfare of families grappling with substance abuse has been recognized with a significant accolade. The Court, which offers an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment program, was selected as a Model Court by the Council of Accountability Court Judges. According to the

official announcement

, the honor highlights their unwavering “commitment to Georgia’s family treatment court standards” and their exemplary best practices.

With this designation, the Family Treatment Court is now expected to serve as a resource and to also provide technical assistance to the other 24 Family Treatment Courts throughout Georgia. For a term of three years, they will be working to share information and facilitate site visits, as mentioned by the Council. Such peer-led support is vital for the continued improvement and collaboration among Georgia’s accountability courts, emphasizing the importance of community and the sharing of knowledge to augment the care provided to families in crisis.

The Coweta Family Treatment Court combines various treatment modalities, including individual counseling, group therapy, and parenting classes, with the ultimate goal of reuniting parents with their children from dependency cases. Each participant’s journey through the program is curated to their unique circumstances, and the Court maintains a close partnership with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) for regular oversight. Juvenile Court Judge Joseph Wyant meets with parents every two weeks to review progress and maintain a focus on the “why”—the reason parents are fighting for their families, as Judge Wyant shared in an interview.

Graduation requirements from the program are stringent. Participants must complete four phases of an evidence-based curriculum, attain their GED, finish a community project, secure housing and employment, and keep up with weekly fees. Since its inception in 2017, 38 graduates have successfully navigated the demanding 18-month program, which deliberately caps its numbers to maintain quality treatment. Program Coordinator Marlowe Dix, speaking on the occasion of their recent recognition, emphasizes “We celebrate the good that comes out of it and grieve the bad,” as per the

county’s news release.

The success of the Family Treatment Court relies heavily on the collaboration with local community partners like Coweta Force, Bridging the Gap, and One Roof. This network of support, combined with the dedicated court team, has been pivotal to the program’s impact. Lisa Barton, the Juvenile Court Manager, and Marlowe Dix both pointed to Judge Wyant’s compassionate leadership as a cornerstone of their accomplishment. The team’s investment, recognized by the recent award, is mirrored in the support they receive from the Board of Commissioners and the Administration team, which further bolsters their efforts, as noted by the

news release.

Among those honored by the award and its reflection of hard work and achievement was the late Susan Ebersbach, an attorney whose passion for the program was well known. The award is a testament to her belief in the Family Treatment Court and its mission to deliver a better future for families touched by substance abuse.

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