Helping Substance-Abusing Mothers in the Child-Welfare System: Turning Crisis into Opportunity

Abstract

This paper integrates in-depth interviews with eight mothers and existing relative literature, explaining the recovery journey of substance-abusing mothers in the child-welfare system. The results show that these mothers longed for a mainstream dream (a better life, meaningful relationships, and self-actualization), perhaps because of, as well as for the sake of, their children. However, for them to achieve their dreams, the support of various external systems is necessary—treating mothers and children as one unit, facilitating nonusing social networks, and providing case-management and life-skills training. Child protective service caseworkers can serve as key persons to help these mothers turn crisis into opportunity.

Outcomes of the Main dans la main initiative on substance-abusing expectant and new mothers in the perinatal period

“…Alors que certaines femmes se sont mobilisées durant leur grossesse, d'autres ont eu l'élan nécessaire seulement à l'accouchement. Pour ces femmes, la participation à MdM semble avoir joué un rôle clé en les aidants à transformer la crise en opportunité pour elles et le bébé 41 . De tels résultats suggèrent en outre que les interventions prénatales constituent un défi important à relever et que la réflexion sur les moyens à mettre en place pour adopter une approche encore plus proactive doit se poursuivre.…”

Decisions with Good Intentions: Substance Use Allegations and Child Protective Services Screening Decisions

“…In fact, children of substance abusing parents have become the largest group entering the child welfare system (Besinger et al, 1999). An estimated 30%-80% of families in CPS caseloads across the nation are alleged to have alcohol or drug-related problems that endanger their children Sun, 2000).…”

Mothers, problematic substance use, and child welfare in northern British Columbia.

“…Increased likelihood of involvement is especially true for single mothers and Aboriginal women (Boyd, 1999;Blackstock, Trocme, & Bennett, 2004). Awareness of the connection between parental problematic substance use and child abuse and neglect is found in literature (Grella, Hser, & Huang, 2006;Jones, 2004;Sun, 2000;Trocme, Tourigny, McLaurin, & Fallon, 2003;Walsh, MacMillan, & Jamieson, 2003). A lack of social worker training in screening for problematic substance use and related problems interferes with thorough assessment of the family's functioning.…”

“…Women with substance misuse problems are more likely than men to reside with partners who themselves misuse substances, and/or discourage women from accessing treatment (Astley et al, 2000;Poole & Isaac, 2001;Sun, 2000). These women's family and friends are also likely to resist women attending treatment (Salmon, et al, 2006), and the women are often socially isolated (Poole & Isaac, 2001;Sun, 2000).…”

“…Women with substance misuse problems are more likely than men to reside with partners who themselves misuse substances, and/or discourage women from accessing treatment (Astley et al, 2000;Poole & Isaac, 2001;Sun, 2000). These women's family and friends are also likely to resist women attending treatment (Salmon, et al, 2006), and the women are often socially isolated (Poole & Isaac, 2001;Sun, 2000). Additionally, women who live in rural and remote communities may be more likely to be dependent upon a partner, or husband for financial support because "widespread patriarchal attitudes in many rural communities Mothers, Problematic Substance Use, and Child Welfare in Northern British Columbia reinforce traditional gender roles" (Health Canada, 1996, in Vaillancourt & Keith, 2007).…”