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Alcohol and Child Welfare

Find resources on the prevalence of alcohol use and its impact on children and families as well as strategies for treatment and response.

Social Work Curriculum on Alcohol Use Disorders National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2005) Training materials available online to support education regarding alcohol use disorders, prevention, assessment, intervention, coordinated care systems, adolescence, co-morbidity, and prenatal exposure. Alcohol Policy Information System National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Online resource providing detailed information on a wide variety of alcohol-related policies at both the Federal and State levels. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Center for Excellence Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Facilitates the development and improvement of prevention, treatment, and care systems for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders by providing national leadership and facilitating collaboration in the field.

Adolescent Children of Alcoholic Parents
Ungerleider (Ed.)
The Prevention Researcher, 13(4), 2006
View Abstract
Articles in this journal issue focus on the characteristics of teens with alcoholic parents and effective services to teens and their families.

Alcohol Abuse as a Risk Factor for and Consequence of Child Abuse
Widom & Hiller-Sturmhofel
Alcohol Research and Health, 25(1), 2001
Examines the relationship between child abuse and the use or abuse of alcohol as well as the link between child abuse and problems with alcohol later in life.

Alcohol Awareness Training for Parenting Professionals: Trainer's Manual (PDF - 909 KB)
Murphy (2005)
Addresses common issues related to alcohol abuse, including information on the impact of parental alcohol abuse on children, advice to parents with drinking problems, services and treatment for parents seeking help, and more. Also see the accompanying PowerPoint presentation (PPT - 118 KB).

Alcohol Dependence or Abuse Among Parents With Children Living in the Home (PDF - 60 KB)
Office of Applied Studies (2004)
Highlights findings from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health regarding the percentage of adults with alcohol dependence living with a child younger than 18 years old. The use of cigarettes and illicit drugs as well as threats of physical violence are also discussed.

Children of Alcoholics: A Guide to Community Action (PDF - 3140 KB)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2004)
A guide for individuals and organizations wishing to unite their communities and raise awareness about the effects alcoholism on children and families.

Growing Up With Parental Alcohol Abuse: Exposure to Childhood Abuse, Neglect, and Household Dysfunction
Dube, Anda, Felitti, Croft, Edwards, & Giles
Child Abuse and Neglect, 25(12), 2001
View Abstract
A detailed examination of the association between parental alcohol abuse and multiple forms of childhood abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences.

The Invisible Havoc of Prenatal Alcohol Damage (PDF - 165 KB)
Page
Journal of the Center for Families, Children and the Courts, 4, 2003
Describes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and discusses how the child welfare system has responded, including innovative interventions and approaches.

National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Committed to developing and implementing innovative ideas in prevention, education, intervention, and advocacy in communities about fetal alcohol syndrome both nationally and internationally.

Parenting Training for Alcohol Professionals: Trainer's Manual (PDF - 1340 KB)
Robinson (2005)
Helps substance abuse services staff work with clients who are parents in a supportive way that focuses on the needs and safety of children. Also see the four accompanying PowerPoint presentations.

Paternal Alcoholism, Family Functioning, and Infant Mental Health
Fitzgerald & Das Eiden
Zero to Three, 27(4), 2007
View Abstract
Shares results from two longitudinal studies exploring the impact of a father's alcohol use on child development.

Supporting Children Affected by Parental Alcohol Misuse: A Toolkit
Baker (2007)
Presents a web-based collection of information and profession-specific guidance to support professionals working with children whose parents misuse alcohol.

Updated on March 1, 2010