Dallas County has been chosen as one of the few sites in the country to receive federal funding for a family drug court.

Judge Bob Armstrong’s court learned last week of the funding, which will come from the Alabama Administrative Office of Courts.

Colorado, Iowa, New York and Ohio courts will also receive money from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

“We’re honored that we are one of the few counties in the state of Alabama to be chosen for this program,” Armstrong said. “It really is an improvement project for family drug courts in the state of Alabama that will help reduce problems with our children.”

According to data from the OJJDP, family drug courts have higher rates of parental participation in substance abuse treatments, longer stays in treatment, higher rates of family reunification and shorter stays in foster care.

Armstrong said drug courts do a good job at helping adults but could do more to assist entire families.

“We focus a lot on the adult, the parent, trying to get them clean, but we need to expand the services to help address the trauma to the kids so that you have a better outcome,” Armstrong said. “This program will help us learn how to do that.”