NCJ Number
148651
Date Published
1994
Length
142 pages
Annotation
This manual is designed to help professionals in the fields of child welfare, mental health, health care, education, law, religion, and substance abuse treatment to identify various forms of parental substance abuse, assess the needs of families affected by substance abuse, develop service plans, and provide intervention.
Abstract
Following an introductory chapter describing identifying characteristics of alcohol and drug abuse, the manual describes characteristics of parents at risk and special risks attributed to children of chemically involved parents. These include neurological symptoms, prematurity, infectious diseases, and developmental concerns. Following a discussion of reporting obligations in cases of child abuse involving parental substance abuse, the manual covers components of a comprehensive family assessment. The final two chapters examine juvenile court involvement with chemically involved families and innovative approaches to intervention, including treatment, innovations in out-of-home care, day treatment programs, support programs for parents, and interagency approaches. 6 tables, 42 notes, 66 references, and 3 appendixes