Implementing evidence-based practices to support families affected by opioid use disorders

An estimated 600,000 U.S children live with a parent who has an opioid use disorder (OUD)1,2 thus, they remain at risk of adverse consequences, including withdrawal symptoms if exposed during the prenatal period, out of home (OOH) placement due to child safety concerns, trauma (if parents experience an overdose), and a higher risk of developing their own substance use disorder in adolescence.3 Responding to the opioid epidemic presents numerous challenges for the various systems that serve children, parents and their families.

We are at the forefront of supporting Tribes, states, counties, courts, and community-based agencies to implement evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for children, parents, and their families who are affected by the opioid epidemic. Through the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare contract, our programs strengthen the capacity to improve the safety, health, and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorders and their infants with prenatal substance exposure, their extended family, and other caregivers by implementing Plans of Safe Care.

Effectively addressing the opioid epidemic and its adverse effects on individuals and families requires a multi-systems collaborative approach by child welfare, law enforcement, court systems, substance use disorder treatment and mental health treatment, and healthcare providers. It’s essential that these professionals understand medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD) as a viable option for parents/caregivers who have substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorders. Professionals and families should also be provided adequate education about and access to overdose-reversing medication to help prevent overdose in adults and children.4,5

We facilitate the implementation of multi-system collaborative approaches to improve early identification of opioid use disorders, engagement in substance use disorder treatment, and training on the use of medication for opioid use disorders. We have developed resources to assist communities, organizations, and agencies to better understand and implement evidence-based approaches to support safety, well-being, and recovery of children and families.

CFF ACTIVITIES

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CFF has disseminated over 79,000 materials related to opioid use disorders and medication-assisted treatment since 2016
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CFF has responded to over 5,800 technical assistance requests about opioid use disorders and medication-assisted treatment since 2016

SOME DATA POINTS6

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Over 70% of drug overdose deaths in 2019 involved an opioid7
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From 2010 through 2017, there was a relative increase of 82% in the rate of infants born with a NAS diagnosis8
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Adolescents of parents who misuse prescription opioids are at twice the risk of a suicide attempt, compared to adolescents of parents who do not misuse prescription opioids9
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Adolescents who use prescription opioids are at an increased risk of suicide, with 33% of adolescents who report prescription opioid use attempting suicide, compared to 6% of adolescents who report no use of prescription opioids10

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES 

Through federally- and foundation-funded projects, Children and Family Futures and its small business subsidiary, Center for Children and Family Futures, produces publications, reports, Technical Assistance tools and web-based learning for the field. The following are featured resources from our work. For more resources or information related to a specific topic, please visit our resources page or click the “Request Assistance” button below or at the top of the page.

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Exploring Civil Rights Protections for Individuals in Recovery from an Opioid Use Disorder

This five-part training series provides information to child welfare and court professionals about federal disability rights protections for certain parents with an OUD or other SUD—who are also involved with child welfare. 

Click here to view on the NCSACW website

Medication-Assisted Treatment in the Courtroom: A Benchcard for Judicial Professionals Serving Parents and Children Affected by Opioid Use Disorders

This publication is designed for judicial professionals and collaborative partners serving families affected by OUD. The benchcard includes an overview of MAT, information on frequently used medications, questions to facilitate discussions with court participants, and links to additional resources with a focus on special populations. 

Click here to view on the NCSACW website

Working with Adolescents: Practice Tips and Resource Guide

This guide contains tips and resources for child welfare, substance use treatment providers, healthcare, and other community agencies serving adolescents at risk of misusing substances.  

Click here to view on the NCSACW website

Related Projects and Web-Based Learning

Learn more by exploring related projects and web-based learning.

Related Projects

Related Web-based Learning

  1. Clemans-Cope, L., Lynch, V., Epstein, M., & Kenney, G. M. (2019). Opioid and substance use disorder and receipt of treatment among parents living with children in the United States, 2015-2017. Annals of Family Medicine, 17(3), 207-211. https://dx.doi.org/10.1370%2Fafm.2389
  2. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2021). Child population in the United States. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/102-child-population-by-gender?loc=1&loct=1#detailed/1/any/false/574,1729,37,871,870,573,869,36,868,867/14,15,65/421,422
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Drug overdose deaths. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). High-risk substance use among youth. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/index.htm
  5. Centers for Disease and Control. (2021). Understanding the epidemic. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html
  6. Hadland, S., Agarwal, A. (2023). What to know about fentanyl and using naloxone for opioid overdose. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/substance-abuse/Pages/what-parents-need-to-know-about-naloxone-for-opioid-overdose.aspx
  7. Centers for Disease and Control. (2021). Understanding the epidemic. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html
  8. Hirai, A. H., Ko, J. Y., Owens, P. L., Stocks, C., & Patrick, S. W. (2021). Neonatal abstinence syndrome and maternal opioid-related diagnoses in the US, 2010–2017. Journal of the American Medical Association, 325(2),146-155. https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.24991
  9. Brent, D. A., Hur, K., & Gibbons, R. D. (2019). Association between parental medical claims for opioid prescriptions and risk of suicide attempt by their children. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(9), 941-947. https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0940
  10. Wilkins, N. J., Clayton, H., Jones, C. M., & Brown, M. (2020). Current prescription opioid misuse and suicide risk behaviors among high school students. Pediatrics, 147(3). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-030601