Bridges of Child Welfare/Substance Abuse County (From Substance Abuse, Family Violence, and Child Welfare: Bridging Perspectives, P 124-142, 1998, Robert L. Hampton, Vincent Senatore, et al., eds. - See NCJ-172346)

• NCJ Number: 172350
• Author(s): M Bloom
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article provides a transition from foundational perspectives to an applied examination of substance abuse and child welfare issues.

Abstract

This chapter uses the bridge metaphor to examine what is important in the fields of substance abuse and child welfare: how to link them; how the linkage would look; who would control access to the bridge; some of the stresses on the bridge; and why anyone would want to cross the bridge. Child welfare may be viewed conceptually as three concentric spheres of defenses and enhancements: rugged individualism, or the expectation that an individual will be as self-sufficient as possible; the supportive types of services of the first sphere, plus supplemental services; and substitutive services. These spheres involve both defense against existing problems and enhancement of desired goals, and must be considered in relationship to a bridge to substance abuse. The chapter identifies the stakeholders in child welfare and substance abuse, describes a flow diagram of configural problem-solving, and investigates costs and benefits of the bridge between child welfare and substance abuse. References