NCJ Number
232489
Date Published
August 2010
Length
58 pages
Annotation
This paper focuses on one particular model of collaboration which investigates the placing of substance abuse specialists in either child welfare offices or dependency courts.
Abstract
This paper provides valuable data on programmatic and collaborative structures, lessons learned about program design, problems, or challenges faced by these programs, and how the issues were resolved. Results from the Federal waiver demonstrations indicated that substance abuse-child welfare collaborations were most successful when backed by strong managerial support. Successful demonstrations were found to require careful service coordination and consistent communication between substance abuse specialists and child welfare staff. The mere co-location of substance abuse specialists in child welfare offices did not ensure that workers communicated about their cases. Successful collaboration requires the establishment of formal systems to share case information and to keep all staff informed about caregiver progress. Adequate and appropriate substance abuse treatment resources need to be available to parents. In addition to briefly describing substance abuse specialist programs and their various components, this paper includes findings from eight qualitative interviews of programs that place substance abuse specialists in child welfare offices or dependency courts. The interviews highlight ways in which early decisions about the program's collaborative structure influence other design decisions. Included is a summary of key components of the programs. Endnotes, appendix, table