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Family Court

This section tells you about these community programs at Family Court:

• Family Law Treatment Court
• FIRST 5, Santa Clara County

Family Law Treatment Court

1. What is Family Law Treatment Court?
   
   It is a treatment plan that helps parents who have alcohol or drug problems get into treatment and stay clean and sober, so that they can be better parents and possibly spend more time with their children.
   
   The plan:
    
   • is voluntary – it’s up to the parent to choose to do it
   • lasts for one year
   • is supervised by the Court
   • is customized for everyone going through the program, because each person has different needs
      
2. Who can use it?
   
   Parents who have a current child custody or visitation case in Family Court.
    
3. How does the Court help?
   
   The Treatment Court Judge and a Treatment Court Coordinator tell parents about places to get treatment. They also:
    
   • provide support
   • set up random drug testing
   • watch over the parent's progress in treatment

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   The parties in the case, their lawyers and the all-purpose judge in charge of the child custody and visitation matters can find out about the progress the parent is making in treatment.
    

4. How can I get more information?
   
   Call Family Court Services at 534-5600 and ask the support staff to connect you with the Treatment Court Coordinator.
    

FIRST 5, Santa Clara County

1. What is FIRST 5?
   
   Santa Clara County and Superior Court are partners in the FIRST 5 program which helps young children get a good start in life.
    
2. Who can use FIRST 5?
   
   You can use FIRST 5 services if you:
    
   • live in Santa Clara County
   • have an open case in the Family Court system
   • are pregnant or have at least one child age 5 or younger in your home
      
3. How does this program help parents?
   
   Here are some of the things FIRST can help with:
    
   • getting children get ready to do well in school
   • health insurance
   • dental work
   • eyeglasses for children
   • counseling, parenting classes, domestic violence services, and substance abuse treatment - plus may help pay for these services if they have been court ordered and the parents qualify
   • food, shelter, and/or clothing

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4. Who can I talk to for more information?
   
   Teams of FIRST 5 Program Specialists are at these places:
    
   • Family Court in downtown San Jose (click for page with address and hours)
   • Notre Dame Courthouse in downtown San Jose (click for page with address and hours)
   • May be coming to the CourtMobile Van (click for page about the van, with the calendar and where the van will be)

   You can talk with a Program Specialist at one of the places listed above.

   Or, you can call Family Court Services at 534-5600 and ask the support staff to connect you with a FIRST 5 Program Specialist. Program Specialists speak English, Vietnamese, and Spanish.
    

5. What if my child is over 5?
   
   Call Family Court Services at 534-5636 for referrals to community resources.
    
6. More about the FIRST 5 program
   
   The money for this program comes from a 50-cent tax on tobacco products to fund education, health, child care, child safety and other help for children under 6 years old and their families.

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