Helena Receives A $600,000 Federal Grant For A New Family Drug Treatment Court

The First Judicial District Court is launching a new Family Drug Treatment Court in Helena thanks to a $600,000 federal grant. FDTC Coordinator Korie Diehl explains what a drug court is all about.

“We work with families who have gotten their children taken away related to drug and alcohol use,” said Diehl. “It is called a DN case, dependent and neglect case. We get them referred to us and then we work with them through a multidisciplinary team, we have a team of six. It is called a specialty court.”

Although they just received the grant, one female came in to court on Monday and had her first hearing. Diehl says the woman is facing drug charges involving opiates and methamphetamine and is trying to get her children back.

“Well this particular gal has both,” Diehl said. “They don’t necessarily have to have a criminal charge, but this gal does. On a typical case they just have to have the DN, dependent neglect case, through CPS to be qualified for our court.”

Currently, there are four other Family Drug Treatment Courts in Montana. They are located in Poplar, Butte, Billings and Missoula.