Parental History of Substance Abuse and Treatment

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

(Page 2 of 10)

The parent's record of substance abuse and treatment can provide information that assists the court in evaluating the degree of risk to the child as well as the parent's treatment needs and level of commitment to dealing with his/her substance abuse problem. The more severe and extensive the history of parental substance abuse, the more serious the threat may be to a child's safety. Professionals providing information for the court should include descriptions of:

• the parent's substance abuse problem (substances abused, length of abuse, and frequency of use);
• the parent's typical behavior when under the influence (e.g., violent, absent, or dazed and bizarre);
• parental participation in substance abuse treatment (attendance patterns, level of involvement in treatment, and indicators of progress);
• parental acknowledgment of alcohol and/or other drug abuse as a problem;
• urine toxicology results (a series of results is preferable to a single report); and
• behavioral indicators of sobriety or continued alcohol and/or other drug use.

Parenting Profile

The juvenile court is interested in information that demonstrates parents' concern for their children's welfare as well as their ability to provide protection and proper care. Agency reports or testimony from neighbors, family, or others should include information relevant to:

• records of prior child abuse and neglect allegations and investigations;
• significant physical or mental health impairments that interfere with the parents' ability to care for their children;
• parents' perceptions of the impact of their substance abuse on family life and parenting;
• parents' participation in parenting education classes or response to in-home instruction (attendance patterns, level of involvement, and indicators of progress);
• observations of parent-child interactions;
• parents' behavior toward their children when using drugs or alcohol; and
• visitation patterns, if a child is in out-of-home care.

Home Environment

The condition of the family home environment is critical to determining a child's need for protection. Obviously, the use, sale, or manufacture of drugs by parents or others within the home will significantly impact the child's safety. Furthermore, the risk to the child is also increased when homelessness or lack of food and basic necessities are the consequences of a parent's use of family resources to purchase drugs or alcohol. The court is particularly interested in the following types of information concerning the home environment:

• indications of illegal activity or violence within the home;
• environmental conditions within the home (hygiene, food, furnishings, and the functioning of utilities);
• steps taken by parents to remedy environmental hazards;
• household composition; and
• relationship of other adults in the household to the child and parent, their responsibility for child care, and their knowledge of and involvement with the parent's substance use.

Family Supports

The strength of the family's support system can be pivotal in providing protection for the child, maintaining the family unit, and supporting the parent's treatment. When communicating with the juvenile court, professionals should include information relevant to:

• willingness and ability of extended family members and significant others to help with the care of dependent children who remain in parental care;
• extended family's ability to provide care and protection for the child if out-of-home care is required; and
• family involvement with church, temple, or other community groups.

Treatment and Support Services

The juvenile court depends on child welfare, health and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and educational professionals to assess the treatment needs of children and parents, identify appropriate treatment resources, and to provide evaluations of the progress made by parents and children in treatment. In communicating with the juvenile court, it is important that professionals specify:

• specific treatment needs, including the recommended frequency and duration of treatment;
• available and appropriate resources (e.g., treatment for pregnant or postpartum women and their infants and children or treatment programs for clients who require medical supervision);
• involvement and progress in treatment (patterns of attendance, level of participation and indicators of progress);
• a description of therapeutic and supportive services provided for the family, including housing; day care; transportation; clothing; food stamps; child support and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program;
• outreach efforts made to engage resistant clients in treatment; and
• documentation that noncompliance with treatment is not related to waiting lists, cultural or language barriers, or transportation problems.

About the Author

www.childwelfare.gov
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.