The Family Drug and Alcohol Courts are alternative family courts for care proceedings. They aim to help families stay together – to stop children being taken into care – by working with parents struggling with the toxic trio of domestic violence, substance misuse and poor mental health.

On 30^th March, our CEO Hannah heard His Honour Judge Patrick Perusko and two women who had been through FDAC speak powerfully about FDAC’s success rate of supporting parents to address their demons and keep their children.

At Youth Concern we support children and young people with experience of the care system, domestic violence, substance misuse and poor mental health. We know they face a range of challenging social and health outcomes, including poorer educational results, higher rates of mental health problems and exploitation. It was great to hear about an initiative trying to deal with the problem at source.

Hannah would also like to thank the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire 2021-2 George Anson for his support of Youth Concern’s work during his year in office, and for inviting her to represent Youth Concern at the annual Justice Dinner. It was a great opportunity to meet representatives of the criminal justice system, cabinet members, councillors, police and charities; together we can do so much more for children and young people.