The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare

This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cachildwelfareclearinghousetest.org/

Substance Abuse (Parental)

1. Well Supported - Effective Practice
2. Supported - Efficacious Practice
3. Promising Practice
4. Effectiveness Unknown
5. Fails to Demonstrate Effect
6. Concerning Practice
See Scientific Rating Scale

Here are your search results for programs in the Topical Area - Substance Abuse (Parental):

Results are shown only for the programs that have been rated in each category. You can see the full rating scale on the right.

You can also read why the Advisory Comittee chose Substance Abuse (Parental) as a topic area at the bottom of this page.


Programs with a Scientific Rating of 1 - Well Supported - Effective Practice

  1. Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 3 - Promising Practice

  1. Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
  2. Community Reinforcement + Vouchers Approach (CRA + Vouchers)
  3. Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA)

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 4 - Effectiveness Unknown

  1. Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery
  2. Reno Family Drug Court
  3. Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS)
  4. Substance Abuse Recovery Management System (SARMS)

See why Substance Abuse (Parental) was selected by the Advisory Committee.

What is Substance Abuse as It Relates to Child Welfare?

The recent round of Children and Family Service Reviews showed that 16% to 48% of all child welfare cases include substance use disorders. According to the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW), 71% of caregivers who are alcohol dependent are classified by the child welfare workers as not having alcohol problems and 73% of caregivers who are drug dependent are classified by child welfare workers as not having a drug problem.

The most significant risks to children of substance abusers include poorer developmental outcomes, depression, anxiety, and a high risk of substance abuse themselves. Research has shown that these children exhibit physical health consequences; lack of secure attachment; language delays; behavioral problems; poor social relations and skills; deficits in motor skills and cognition; and learning disabilities.

Why Substance Abuse Was Chosen by the Advisory Committee:

The number of children prenatally exposed to substances is estimated at 10% to 11% of all newborns each year. Only 5% of these newborns are placed in out-of-home care, the rest may go home without assessment and/or services. The increasing use of meth/amphetamine has created another severe problem for children. In the last four years, according to the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW), 2,881 children have been placed in protective custody as a result of parents who are operating meth labs and over 1,200,000 children were present when a meth lab was discovered by authorities.

The parents of these children need adequate identification by child welfare workers and these children themselves need in depth assessments and interventions. Only by discovering evidenced-based best practices can we begin to stop the destructive results of substance abusing parents and stop the cycle of addiction for the children of these parents.

Debby Jeter
Deputy Director, Family and Children's Division
San Francisco Human Services Agency