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  • Impact of Substance Use on the Child Welfare System

Impact of Substance Use on the Child Welfare System

Many families and children receiving child welfare services are affected by parental substance use. Having a substance use disorder is a risk factors for maltreatment, as it may affect a parent’s ability to function as a caregiver and provide for their children's basic needs, such as safety, security, and permanency. For these reasons, it is essential that child welfare professionals understand the intersection of child welfare and substance use disorders to effectively assess and intervene in affected families. Below, find resources detailing the connection between child maltreatment and parental substance use disorders.

  • The opioid crisis

2014 and 2017 Regional Partnership Grants to Increase the Well-Being and to Improve the Permanency Outcomes of Children Affected by Substance Abuse
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (2021)
Provides a summary of the cross-site evaluation findings from the third round of Regional Partnership Grants (RPG), introduces projects and evaluations for the fourth cohort of RPGs, and summarizes the redesign for the national cross-site evaluation.

Child Welfare and Alcohol and Drug Use Statistics
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
Presents national data over more than two decades that summarizes how parental substance use has affected the child welfare system.

Children Living With Parents Who Have a Substance Use Disorder
Lipari & Van Horn (2017)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Describes the prevalence of children living with a parent who has a substance use disorder and provides information about common outcomes for these families and the types of services that may be needed to support their well-being.

How Many Families in Child Welfare Services Are Affected by Parental Substance Use Disorders? A Common Question That Remains Unanswered
Seay (2016)
Child Welfare, 94
Discusses how prevalence rates of parental substance use in the child welfare system vary based on the type of child welfare involvement and method of data collection. 

Parental Substance Use as Child Abuse

Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 615KB)
Year Published
2020
Discusses laws and policies that address the issue of substance use by parents. One major area of concern is responding to the care and treatment needs of substance-exposed infants. Another major concern is addressing the harm that a child of any age can suffer when a parent's use of alcohol or other substances leads to neglect of the child or the child is exposed to illegal drug activity. Full-text excerpts of laws for all States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories are included.

The Relationship Between Substance Use Indicators and Child Welfare Caseloads (PDF - 390 KB)
Ghertner, Baldwin, Crouse, Radel, & Waters (2018)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation 
Discusses the intrinsic relationship between substance use prevalence and child welfare cases, which have both risen in recent years.

Substance Abuse and Child Welfare Resources
National Conference of State Legislatures (2019)
Includes State data and policy compilations, news stories, resources on statewide initiatives and local programs, and links to national organizations that provide information about the opioid crisis.  

Tutorials for Child Welfare Professionals
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
Provides child welfare professionals with knowledge of alcohol and drug addiction and its impact on parenting; engagement strategies and the treatment and recovery process for families affected by substance use disorders; services needed by children whose parents have substance use disorders; and methods of improving collaboration among substance use treatment, child welfare and court systems.

Understanding Substance Use Disorders - What Child Welfare Staff Need to Know (PDF - 1,112)
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (2019)
Offers five tips for child welfare professionals to use when working with families affected by substance use disorders.

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