NCJ Number
165269
Date Published
1996
Length
72 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides guidance on how best to recruit and retain substance-using pregnant and parenting women and their infants in drug treatment programs.
Abstract
The section on recruitment first defines recruitment and then describes recruitment strategies, barriers to recruitment, and some lessons learned by those experienced in dealing with substance-using pregnant women and mothers of young children. The section on retention addresses types of retention, retention strategies, retention issues, and predictors of retention. Lessons learned about retention are also considered. The authors advise that before successful recruitment can occur, program staff must have an understanding of the needs and lifestyles of substance-using pregnant and parenting women. Creating referral networks with other agencies is considered essential to recruiting substance-using pregnant and parenting women. Staff training on appropriate screening methods is critical to increasing the number of referrals. Various outreach methods have been implemented to identify substance-using women in the community. Cultural sensitivity to the ethnic backgrounds of the clients is also important in establishing substance abuse programs as a place where women want to come. Programs must reduce the waiting time from initial contact to entry into the program. When programs are full, staff must maintain contact with prospective clients. Addressing child care and transportation needs is essential to successful recruitment. Finally, it is essential that programs conduct staff training to address attitudes about serving this population. 58 references and appended program descriptions