CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Members and staff of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, along with three program graduates, will provide a one-hour presentation on the operations and benefits of Family Treatment Courts at noon Tuesday, Jan. 13, in the House of Delegates Chamber at the state Capitol.

Lawmakers, media and members of the public are invited to attend the presentation in the House Chamber. It will also livestreamed on the Legislature’s website at https://www.wvlegislature.gov/live.cfm.

Chief Justice C. Haley Bunn, Justice Thomas H. Ewing – who oversaw the Family and Adult Treatment Courts in Fayette County – and Supreme Court Director of Probation Services Stephanie Bond and Statewide Family Treatment Court Specialist Katie White will be joined by three program graduates to discuss their experiences with Family Treatment Courts as well as answer any questions about the courts.

Family Treatment Courts are specialized, problem-solving courts designed to support parents in overcoming substance use disorders while working toward the safe reunification of their families. The Legislature created Family Treatment Courts as a pilot program in 2019, later making them a permanent program under supervision of the Supreme Court in 2021. The courts offer immediate intervention, intensive supervision and comprehensive treatment services to help parents access recovery resources in a timely manner, which helps reduce the amount of time children spend in foster care and return them to a safe home environment with their families.

Details of the presentation are:

     WHAT: Family Treatment Court Overview

     WHEN: Noon (12 p.m.), Tuesday, Jan. 13

     WHO: Chief Justice C. Haley Bunn
                Justice Thomas H. Ewing, former presiding circuit judge for the Fayette County
                Family Treatment and Adult Treatment Courts
                Director of Probation Services Stephanie Bond
                Statewide Family Treatment Court Specialist Katie White
                Three Program Graduates

     WHERE: House of Delegates Chamber
                   Streaming at: https://www.wvlegislature.gov/live.cfm

Copies of the PowerPoint presentation and handout will be available by request following the presentation.

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