Center Assists People with Substance Abuse and Child Welfare Issues
The dilemma for service providers posed by the intersection of
parental substance abuse with child neglect and maltreatment is
one of the most difficult to resolve.
In response, SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
joined with the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau,
of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families to launch
the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare in 2002.
The National Center's goal is to improve outcomes for children
and families affected by substance use disorders and child abuse
or neglect. It is staffed through a California-based organization
called Children and Family Futures and supported by a consortium
of national associations and organizations involved in child welfare
and substance abuse issues. The National Center shares its expertise
and knowledge with communities, policymakers, and other professionals.
Its strategies are focused on promoting collaboration between the
substance abuse treatment system, child welfare system, and dependency
courts to improve practices and policies.
The National Center's Web site offers training materials, presentations,
and professional literature on related topics including substance
abuse treatment issues, children's services, and dependency courts
with jurisdiction in cases of child abuse and neglect.
The first in a series of online tutorials and trainings, "Understanding
Child Welfare and the Dependency Court: A Guide for Substance Abuse
Treatment Professionals" provides training in child welfare
and dependency court procedures and is available on SAMHSA's Web
site. Other tutorials geared to child welfare service providers,
judicial officers, and legislators will be available in 2005.
The National Center also offers in-depth technical assistance
to states and territories. This work is building closer collaboration
among substance abuse, child welfare, and court systems in Colorado,
Michigan, Florida, and Virginia.
For more information about the National
Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, visit www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov,
call (714) 505-3525, or e-mail ncsacw@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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