Chappell E, Sielbeck-Mathes K, Reiserer R
… +3 more, Wohltjen H, Wendyshuran, McInerney E
Child Welfare
· 2015 · PMID 26827471
This article describes how Building Strong Families in Rural Tennessee (BS-FinRT) increased hopefulness and helped to promote the policy goal of developing a recovery focus among families with vulnerabilities. These outc...This article describes how Building Strong Families in Rural Tennessee (BS-FinRT) increased hopefulness and helped to promote the policy goal of developing a recovery focus among families with vulnerabilities. These outcomes were achieved by implementing collaborative strategies for addressing issues of child safety, substance use, and family stability. Early analyses of the program's outcomes indicated an unexpected positive influence on parent and child hopefulness. Further analyses found that changes in hope between baseline and discharge correlated positively with changes over the same time period in problem severity, general functioning, and mental health symptomology.
Despite repeated calls for evidence-based practice to address the co-occurring needs of families referred to the child welfare system for parental substance use disorders and child neglect, limited attention has been giv...Despite repeated calls for evidence-based practice to address the co-occurring needs of families referred to the child welfare system for parental substance use disorders and child neglect, limited attention has been given to the rigorous evaluation of such interventions. This paper describes the initial testing of an intervention developed to meet the complex needs of such families. The Families Actively Improving Relationships (FAIR) program and preliminary outcomes are described. The need for integrated interventions is highlighted.
Peer mentoring interventions for parents with substance use disorders who are involved with the child welfare system are relatively new, complex, individualized interventions and thus need to be understood both in regard...Peer mentoring interventions for parents with substance use disorders who are involved with the child welfare system are relatively new, complex, individualized interventions and thus need to be understood both in regard to program efficacy and the processes of how they work. This qualitative study of the experiences of parents involved in a parent mentoring program suggested that certain practices helped motivate parents to think and act in ways that supported their goals and child welfare case plans. The three key mentoring practices that emerged were building caring relationships, providing guidance, and putting parents in charge. These practices promoted parents'positive self-beliefs (e.g., worthy of connection, competence), which helped motivate them to participate in services, cope constructively with difficulties, and more effectively manage behaviors and emotions. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory and Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT) in particular, we propose a motivational framework for understanding how peer mentoring facilitates, or undermines, parents'motivation and results in their making progress on various aspects of their child welfare case. Implications for using the motivational model in future program development and evaluation efforts are discussed.
Ungemack J, Giovannucci M, Moy S
… +3 more, Ohrenberger K, Dematteo T, Smith S
Child Welfare
· 2015 · PMID 26827467
Parental substance abuse presents, complex challenges for the child welfare system and courts. This article describes the State of Connecticut's experience implementing the Recovery Specialist Voluntary Program (RSVP), a...Parental substance abuse presents, complex challenges for the child welfare system and courts. This article describes the State of Connecticut's experience implementing the Recovery Specialist Voluntary Program (RSVP), a recovery support program designed to confront the problem of parental substance abuse within the child welfare system without, a family drug court. The state-level collaboration efforts, system changes, factors affecting development and implementation of RSVP, program participants, and preliminary outcomes are described.
Behavioral changes for 76 adults and 115 children from 62 families participating in a Family Treatment Drug Court (FTDC), in either residential or outpatient settings, were studied. Improvements in psychosocial functioni...Behavioral changes for 76 adults and 115 children from 62 families participating in a Family Treatment Drug Court (FTDC), in either residential or outpatient settings, were studied. Improvements in psychosocial functioning were calculated using a reliable change index (RCI) for family, adult, and child measures. Among outcomes, significant improvements in family functioning were noted and associated with improvements in child development and the likelihood of reunification. Support for FTDCs and implications for future practice and research are discussed.
Although the evidence is accumulating to substantiate the successes of Family Drug Courts (FDC), there is little research on the relationship between parent compliance and successful reunification of children with their...Although the evidence is accumulating to substantiate the successes of Family Drug Courts (FDC), there is little research on the relationship between parent compliance and successful reunification of children with their parent(s). This study looked at data from 206 families participating in a FDC in Sacramento County, California. Four compliance measures were examined individually and collectively, after controlling for participant characteristics, using logistic regression models to determine how FDC participation benchmarks impact child reunification. This study found the best predictors of reunification was participation in support group meetings and negative tests for substance use. These findings indicate that initiatives designed to address the needs of families affected by child maltreatment and substance use should take into account and support engagement in informal, community-based activities as well as formal, clinically focused interventions.
Traube DE, He AS, Zhu L
… +2 more, Scalise C, Richardson T
Child Welfare
· 2015 · PMID 26827464
To date, few studies have examined the effect of interagency collaboration on substance abuse assessment ity of Southern California and treatment completion for parents who are involved in child welfare. The purpose of t...To date, few studies have examined the effect of interagency collaboration on substance abuse assessment ity of Southern California and treatment completion for parents who are involved in child welfare. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) describe a statewide, interagency collaborative program aimed at providing targeted substance abuse assessment and treatment to parents engaged in the child welfare system; (2) document the specialized assessment and treatment outcomes for parents engaged through this collaborative program; and (3) determine factors related to successful treatment completion for parents involved in the child welfare system. This is a retrospective study of an open cohort of 13,829 individuals admitted to the New Jersey Child Protection Substance Abuse Initiative (CPSAI) program from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010. Data were drawn from two unique administrative data sources. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to explore factors related to successfil treatment completion for parents involved in the child welfare system. Trend analysis for the total sample in the CPSAI program revealed that, of the 10,909 individuals who received a CPSAI assessment, 59% were referred to treatment. Of those referred to treatment, 40% enrolled in a treatment program. Once enrolled in a treatment program, 55% completed or were in the process of completing substance abuse treatment. These findings suggest that when adequate screening and treatment is available through a streamlined process, many of the ethnic and gender disparities present among other populations of individuals seeking treatment are minimized. Utilizing inherent child welfare case factors appears to be an important motivating element that aids parents during the assessment and treatment process.
Dennis K, Rodi MS, Robinson G
… +5 more, DeCerchio K, Young NK, Gardner SL, Stedt E, Corona M
Child Welfare
· 2015 · PMID 26827463
This study is based on data regarding more than 15,000 families served by 53 federal grantees showing that child safety and permanency, parental recovery, and family well-being improve when agencies work together to addr...This study is based on data regarding more than 15,000 families served by 53 federal grantees showing that child safety and permanency, parental recovery, and family well-being improve when agencies work together to address the complex needs of families at the intersection of substance abuse treatment and child welfare. Strategies summarized here offer promising collaborative approaches to mitigate the negative outcomes too often experienced by families impacted by substance use disorders.
This article examines the effectiveness of supportive housing in fostering family preservation and reunification for homeless families with multiple housing barriers. Results indicate that more thanhalfofthe supportive h...This article examines the effectiveness of supportive housing in fostering family preservation and reunification for homeless families with multiple housing barriers. Results indicate that more thanhalfofthe supportive housing program families who are separated from their families by Child Protective Services prior to entering the program are reunified during the 12-month period after entering housing. The rate of reunification for supportive housing families is significantly higher than the rate for matched families who enter shelters, but not significantly different than the rate experienced by matched families entering public housing. This study provides encouraging evidence that housing for families in the child welfare system, including but necessarily limited to supportive housing, can facilitate the reunification of children.
The study tests the short-term impact on housing stability of the Family Unification Program (FUP), a permanent housing program for child welfare- involved families at risk of separation from children due to inadequate h...The study tests the short-term impact on housing stability of the Family Unification Program (FUP), a permanent housing program for child welfare- involved families at risk of separation from children due to inadequate housing. Families eligible for FUP (n = 150) received housing case management services as usual, and half were referred for permanent housing vouchers made available through FUP. Families referred for FUP secured more enriched home learning environments, while more precariously housed families exhibited greater housing, stability when referred for FUP. The intervention did not relate with housing affordability or improvements in neighborhood quality. Findings suggest benefits of FUP-especially for more vulnerable families--in key areas that support child developmet; however, families continue to struggle in the context of poverty.
Farrell AF, Randall KG, Britner PA
… +3 more, Cronin B, Somaroo-Rodriguez SK, Hansen L
Child Welfare
· 2015 · PMID 29443477
This paper describes Connecticut's Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) program, which is one of five national sites comprising a federally- funded demonstration of housing and child welfare. Evaluations of supportive h...This paper describes Connecticut's Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) program, which is one of five national sites comprising a federally- funded demonstration of housing and child welfare. Evaluations of supportive housing (SH) interventions are complicated by contextual factors that make it difficult to isolate their effects. 'Ihese and other challenges complicate efforts to conduct rigorous research and establish external validity, and to date, few studies examine the impact of SH interventions for child- welfare involved families. We describe retrospectively the development of SHF using. six stages of imple- mentation articulated within an implementation science framework, noting both the core components of the program and its expansion from a small pilot exploration, to a statewide initiative, and now to the center of a systems change effort with potential to influence national policy and implementation.
There is growing acknowledgement that housing can provide more than shelter, a basic need. Housing can also act as a foundation, helping families stay together.The provision of housing as a prevention or protective strat...There is growing acknowledgement that housing can provide more than shelter, a basic need. Housing can also act as a foundation, helping families stay together.The provision of housing as a prevention or protective strategy against child maltreatment has not been widely used by child welfare agencies. A small subset of child welfare agencies across the country, however, is incorporating housing into their response to cases of child abuse and neglect. Using qualitative data from ongoing studies of HUD's Family Unification Program (FUP) and the Children's Bureau supportive housing demonstration for high-need child welfare involved families, we describe some of the promising practices agencies are implementing and testing. Though evaluations of these programs are not yet complete, there is a lot the field can learn from these approaches. This paper provides an overview of seven promising strategies: (1) partnering with public housing agencies and leveraging resources; (2) assessing the housing needs of child welfare involved families; (3) triaging and providing housing resources based on needs; (4) providing housing first, not. last; (5) developing housing stability plans and shared case plans; (6) screening families into housing, rather than screening out; and (7) providing housing search assistance.
The quality and safety of the home environment is a common focus of Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations.Yet little is known about whether such conditions influence CPS outcomes. The present study uses a sample...The quality and safety of the home environment is a common focus of Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations.Yet little is known about whether such conditions influence CPS outcomes. The present study uses a sample of low-income families to assess the relative importance of housing conditions and other common risk and protective factors associated with child maltreatment. Results show that hazardous conditions predict investigated child neglect, but not physical abuse or indicated reports.