Identifying substance use disorders among families involved with child welfare

We offer training and technical assistance for systems to work together to implement screening protocols that identify persons affected by substance use and mental disorders. Technical assistance involves helping agencies determine the appropriate validated screening tools and implement a comprehensive, collaborative screening and assessment protocol to assist in families’ successful engagement and retention in services that lead to positive treatment outcomes.

Research shows that prompt entry into substance use disorder treatment significantly increases the length of time parents spend in treatment and increases the likelihood of parents’ treatment completion and reunification with children.1,2,3

Parents are more likely to receive a prompt referral to substance use and mental disorder assessment and treatment if the child welfare agency engages in universal screening using a validated screening tool and if there is a memorandum of understanding between treatment providers and child welfare to guarantee priority access to assessment and treatment.4 We have experience supporting communities in implementing universal screening and collaborative screening protocols that ensure quick entry to substance use disorder assessment and treatment.

CFF ACTIVITIES

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CFF has disseminated over 25,400 materials related to screening and assessment since 2016
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CFF has responded to over 1,400 technical assistance requests about screening and assessment since 2016

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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Screening for Substance Use in Child Welfare Using the UNCOPE

National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare’s pre-recorded video reviews the UNCOPE and, through a case vignette, demonstrates how to incorporate this screening in child welfare practice even if factors related to substance use are not known or suspected.

Click here to view on the NCSACW website

Understanding Screening and Assessment of Substance Use Disorders - Child Welfare Practice Tips

The National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare’s tip sheet provides child welfare professionals with access to information about identifying and treating parental substance use disorders (SUDs), including signs and symptoms, screening practices, and referral for assessment.

Click here to view on the NCSACW website

Collaborative Capacity Module 5 – Frontline Collaborative Efforts: Developing Screening Protocols to Identify Parental Substance Use Disorders and Related Child and Family Needs

The fifth module of the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare’s Collaborative Capacity Series provides an overview of the screening tools and processes that child welfare, substance use treatment, healthcare, and other community-based agencies can use to identify parental substance use disorders and related challenges faced by children and families. It also describes the key steps that collaborative teams can take to develop a comprehensive screening protocol.

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. Neo, S. H. F., Norton, S., Kavallari, D., & Canfield, M. (2021). Integrated treatment programmes for mothers with substance use problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions to prevent out-of-home child placements. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(11), 2877–2889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02099-8
  2. Tuten, M., Fitzsimons, H., Hochheimer, M., Jones, H. E., & Chisolm, M. S. (2018). The impact of early substance use disorder treatment response on treatment outcomes among pregnant women with primary opioid use. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 12(4), 300–307. https://doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000000397
  3. Ryan, J. P., Perron, B. E., Moore, A., Victor, B. G., & Park, K. (2017). Timing matters: A randomized control trial of recovery coaches in foster care. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 77, 178–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2017.02.006
  4. He, A. S. (2017). Interagency collaboration and receipt of substance abuse treatment services for child welfare-involved caregivers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 79, 20-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2017.05.006