Family Preservation Court
Introduction
Lafayette Family Preservation Court began in May 2010. It is an alternative to regular dependency court designed to improve the safety and well-being of children in the dependency system by providing parents with access to drug and alcohol treatment, judicial monitoring of their sobriety, and individualized services to support the entire family. The LFPC has established several community collaborations and relies almost solely on Department of Children and Family Services referrals.
Through this collaborative, non-adversarial approach, the Family Preservation Court integrates substance abuse treatment and increased accountability into the process by utilizing the 10 key components of the Drug Court model. The goal is to give parents quicker access to treatment, the ability to stay in treatment longer, and more access to treatment as needed. With the intense intervention the LFPC provides, the judge and DCFS can make quicker and more informed decisions on the parent's ability to parent. This leads to cost savings and better outcomes for the children.
Lafayette Family Preservation Court provides services to Lafayette and Vermilion Parish.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Lafayette Family Preservation Court is to provide judicial accountability and enhanced access to comprehensive treatment services, to improve the safety and welfare of children, and to support the recovery of their parents from alcohol and drug abuse.
Target Population
Parents must be residents of the 15th JDC and the legal and primary caretakers of a child who has been placed or is in danger of being placed, into DFCS care outside the parental home. The parent must have allegations arising from substance abuse or dependence and must voluntarily enter the program. Exclusionary criteria include prior substantiated reports of child sexual abuse, a mental health or cognitive disability that prevents full participation in substance abuse treatment, a chronic or terminal medical condition requiring extensive treatment, previous convictions for felony violent crimes, or felony child abuse (can be waived by a judge).
Program Goals
• The program is designed to reunite parents with their children in less time by providing accelerated services and quickly linking them to treatment services, including but not limited to substance abuse counseling, parenting and nurturing skills, life skills, and any other services they need.
• To provide parents with a specialized DCFS unit to help them satisfy your case plan needs.
• To give parents frequent interaction with the Judge supervising your case.
• To give parents access to a public defender who will advocate for them if they have pending criminal proceedings.
• To help parents understand the treatment process and help them engage in treatment until you complete it.
• To give parents ongoing support and assistance to stay connected with their children while placed out of the home.
• To provide parents with increased visitation with their children if they are staying sober and living a healthy lifestyle.
Judge Thomas Duplantier
P.O. Box 3612
Lafayette, La. 70502
Office: (337) 269-5722
Secretary: Emily Hoskins eHoskins@15thjdc.org
Law Clerk: Tracey Davenport: duplantierlawclerk@icloud.com
Court Reporter: Ashley Alis: aealis@15thjdc.org
Coordinator
Darce' Byrd, M.A.
(337) 258-7308
dbyrd15th@gmail.com
111 E. Main Street
2nd Floor
Lafayette, LA 70501
Lead Case Manager
Pam Russell
(337) 806-4458
prussell15thjdc@gmail.com
111 E. Main Street
2nd Floor
Lafayette, LA 70501
Recovery Coach/Case Manager
Allison Copeland, M.A.
(337) 315-1498
abrownlfpc@gmail.com
111 E. Main Street
2nd Floor
Lafayette, LA 70501