{"id":5627,"date":"2025-12-22T15:17:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T15:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courts.eriecountypa.gov\/?page_id=5627"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:52:53","slug":"family-dependency-treatment-court","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/courts.eriecountypa.gov\/index.php\/family-dependency-treatment-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Dependency Treatment Court"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Family Dependency Treatment Court<\/h1>\n\t

The Erie County Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) is a unique program which provides supervision and intensive treatment to parents who need to address substance abuse and\/or mental health difficulties as part of their reunification plan. Treatment Court provides individual levels of comprehensive treatment to all parents including vocational, educational, life skills, judicial oversight, and other key services to address issues which contributed to the children’s adjunction and dependency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Treatment Court<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\t\t
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Family Dependency Treatment Court <\/a><\/p>\n\t\t

Veterans Treatment Court<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\n\t\t

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Family Dependency Treatment Court <\/a><\/p>\n\t\t

Veterans Treatment Court<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Quick Links<\/h3>\n\t\t
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What can Treatment Court do for you?<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Benefits of Completion<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Expectations<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Eligibility<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Our Goal Is Your Goal<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What can Treatment Court do for you?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t
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The FDTC program has been developed to help individuals become better parents by living a clean and sober lifestyle. The program is designed to give you every chance to get your family back together and join the community as a productive and responsible person. The program is voluntary and your personal choice. The Judge and the Treatment Team are here to assist and guide you, but the final responsibility is yours.<\/p>\n\t\t\tBack To Top<\/a>\n\t\t\t

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What are the benefits of completing FDTC?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t
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The most important benefit is family reunification. Your graduation from FDTC means you have established a stable and healthy lifestyle for you and your child(ren). Beyond feeling good about yourself and proud of your accomplishments, the rewards can be priceless. FDTC promotes stable and long-term reunification for you to be a sober and responsible caregiver.<\/p>\n\t\t\tBack To Top<\/a>\n\t\t\t

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What to expect in FDTC<\/h3>\n\t\t\t
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If a parent is assessed and determined to be appropriate for FDTC, he\/she would agree to join the program. An individual treatment plan would be designed with the parent\u2019s input based on history and present level of needs. The parent would attend Court weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on the assigned phase. Each Court appearance would give the parent an opportunity to discuss his\/her strengths and needs associated with treatment services and the ECOCY case. Throughout the FDTC process, each parent will also participate in random urinalysis, as well as have timely access to treatment and treatment providers.<\/p>\n\t\t\tBack To Top<\/a>\n\t\t\t

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Am I eligible for FDTC?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t
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A parent with an ECOCY case where the child has been Adjudicated Dependent due to substance abuse and\/or mental health difficulties which have led to substance abuse is eligible for the program. The Court would then Order the parent to complete an Application and participate in eligibility assessments. The parent would also need to be 18 years of age or older and an Erie County resident.<\/p>\n\t\t\tBack To Top<\/a>\n\t\t\t

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Our goal is your goal!<\/h3>\n\t\t\t
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The goal of the Erie County FDTC is to help reunite families after parents have successfully undergone treatment to become more stable in their behavior and recovery efforts. The Team is here to help promote the health, safety, welfare, and permanency for our participants\u2019 children.\n\t\t\tThere are three phases to the FDTC program, with your responsibilities lessening as you successfully move through each phase. The bottom line is that you are in charge of all the progress you make and the time it takes for you to graduate.<\/p>\n\t\t\tBack To Top<\/a>\n\t\t\t

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Family Treatment Court Works! <\/h4>\n\t\t
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\u201cI found in the Team a surplus of supportive individuals that cared about the progress and welfare of struggling individuals with addictions.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t
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\u201cTreatment Court taught me to be accountable and how-to live-in recovery. If my story can help at least one person, it was worth it!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t
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\u201cI have gained a lot of self-confidence and self-respect by being reliable, dependable and responsible.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t
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\u201cWhile I was in Treatment Court, I was educated on what drug addiction was and how it affected not only me but the people I love.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t
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\u201cTreatment Court has been a positive support and guidance. I was able to be honest without feeling pressured or that the Team was looking down on me.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t
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\u201cI have been given another chance at life, another chance at being the mother, daughter, sister, and friend everyone knew I could be! I am no longer that scared, broken, or lost person I used to be. I have taken my life back!\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t

If you think FDTC is right for you, then act now!<\/strong><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Contact<\/h1>\n\t
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Family Dependency Treatment Court Team<\/h2>\n\t\t\t

Judge Erin Connelly Marucci | Court of Common Pleas<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t

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Michelle DuShole <\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t

Department: OCY<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Office of Children and Youth
\n\t\t\t\t154 West Ninth Street
\n\t\t\t\tErie, PA 16501 <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

<\/i> 814-451-6653<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t<\/i> 814-451-6565<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/details>\n\n\t

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Sarah Barthelmes<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Department: Mental Health<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Erie County Care Management
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1601 Sassafras Street
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tErie, PA 16502 <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

<\/i> 814-878-1685<\/a>
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Cindy DiGangi<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Department: Drug and Alcohol <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Erie County Care Management
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1601 Sassafras Street
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tErie, PA 16502 <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

<\/i> 814-451-6830<\/a> <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/details>\n
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Family Dependency Treatment Court The Erie County Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) is a unique program which provides supervision and intensive treatment to parents who need to address substance abuse and\/or mental health difficulties as part of their reunification plan. Treatment Court provides individual levels of comprehensive treatment to all parents including vocational, educational, life […]<\/p>\n

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