Home > Systemwide > Service Array > Substance Abuse > Assessment of Children, Youth, and Families Affected by Substance Abuse > Assessing Substance Abuse Treatment Needs

Assessing Substance Abuse Treatment Needs

The following resources provide information on assessing the type and level of treatment services needed for adults, youth, and children affected by substance abuse.

• Adults
• Youth
• Children

Understanding Substance Use Disorders: Treatment and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (2005) This tutorial for child welfare workers provides a primer on substance abuse treatment and recovery, enhancing treatment readiness and treatment effectiveness, and improving cross-system collaboration. Colorado's Protocol: Improving Services to Families: Strategies for Substance Abuse Treatment, Child Welfare, and Dependency Court: A Guide for Counties, Service Providers and Judicial Districts in Colorado (PDF - 741 KB) Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Office of the State Court Administrator & National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (2004) Describes community practice standards and recommended action steps for identifying substance abuse and assessing the need for intervention and treatment.

Adults

Barriers to Services Among Women in Substance Abuse Treatment: Implications for Child Welfare
Tracy & Martin
APSAC Advisor: American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, 18(3), 2006
View Abstract
Documents the extent and types of co-occurring disorders and examines barriers to substance abuse and mental health services among women in residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs.

Understanding, Assessing, and Treating Adult Victims of Childhood Abuse
Rodriguez-Srednicki & Twaite (2006)
View Abstract
This book examines childhood abuse and its impact on adult disorders, including substance use, and reviews assessment techniques and instruments for survivors of childhood abuse. It includes a chapter on treatment for patients with post-traumatic symptoms and substance use disorders.

(Back to Top)

Youth

Counseling and Treating Adolescents With Alcohol and Other Substance Use Problems and Their Families
Fagan
The Family Journal, 14(4), 2006
View Abstract
Examines strategies for assessing and diagnosing adolescents with substance use problems as well as how to design interventions and treatment programs for adolescents and their families.

Criminal Neglect: Substance Abuse, Juvenile Justice, and the Children Left Behind (PDF - 1610 KB)
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (2004)
Determines the extent of substance abuse among youth in the juvenile justice system and the need for prevention and rehabilitation services for juvenile offenders. Recommends comprehensive assessment for youth in the juvenile justice system and other reforms.

(Back to Top)

Children

Children Exposed to Parental Substance Abuse: Interventions
Elstein
ABA Child Law Practice, 20(9), 2001
View Abstract
Guidance for lawyers, judges, and child welfare professionals to ensure that children of substance abusers receive appropriate intervention services to prevent developmental problems and future drug use. Includes types of pediatric assessments to identify problems related to parental drug use and suggestions for the comprehensive evaluation of mothers suspected of drug use.

A Child's-Eye View of Parent Methamphetamine Abuse: Implications for Helping Foster Families to Succeed
Haight, Ostler, Black, Sheridan, & Kingery
Children and Youth Services Review, 29(1), 2007
View Abstract
Based on information from children's interviews, this article discusses ways to facilitate the adjustment of children in foster care and uses the context of children's experiences to help foster families shape their response to potential challenges that may emerge.

Identifying Children's Needs When Parents Access Drug Treatment: The Utility of a Brief Screening Measure
Gruenert, Ratnam, & Tsantefski
Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 6(1/2), 2006
View Abstract
Evaluates a brief screening measure of child psychosocial functioning to assist drug and alcohol workers to identify which of their client's children need additional support.

A Level of Care Instrument for Children's Systems of Care: Construction, Reliability, and Validity
Fallon, Pumariega, Sowers, & Klaehn
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 15(2), 2006
View Abstract
Describes an instrument to help determine the intensity of services needed for a child served in a mental health system of care, including a dimension for determining concerns related to substance abuse.

Services for Children of Incarcerated Mothers With Co-Occurring Disorders (PDF - 88 KB)
Katz (2002)
Explains the impact of incarceration, mental disorders, and substance abuse on the family and the attachment development of children. Describes key components for programs providing services to young children and school-aged children.

State and Jurisdictional Eligibility Definitions for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities Under IDEA (PDF - 206 KB)
Shackelford (2006)
Discusses how 50 States and 6 jurisdictions define "developmental delay" and "at-risk" in their definition of eligibility for services and, when applicable, their approach to serving children who are at-risk of having substantial developmental delay.

(Back to Top)

Updated on March 1, 2010