Family drug courts address the needs of families involved in the child welfare system where parental substance abuse is a factor. Under the supervision of a judge, family drug courts offer intensive drug treatment intervention and supportive services, within a structure of sanctions. Although the court processes may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, family drug courts generally share the following characteristics: (1) judicial leadership; (2) goal of reunification; (3) intensive treatment services; (4) interdisciplinary team involvement; (5) early identification and eligibility; (6) ongoing monitoring of progress; (7) parent rehabilitation; (8) agreement to program conditions; (9) sanctions and incentives to ensure compliance; (10) program completion and follow-up; and (11) reunification following successful completion. The article evaluates the successes of family drug courts, discusses some of the barriers to their use and provides guidelines on starting a family drug court. Resources, notes