New Tool Helps Children in the Welfare System

A new guidebook designed to help public and private agencies respond to families in the child welfare system affected by substanc abuse disorders is now available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The guidebook is "Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention, and Recovery" (SAFERR).

"The SAFERR monograph was developed in response to frequent requests from managers of child welfare agencies for a "tool" that caseworkers could use to screen parents for potential substance use disorders in order to make decisions about children's safety," according to the SAMSHA Web site. "Although research findings and practical experience have established that no single checklist yields the kind of information caseworkers need to make difficult decisions about whether children are safe, they have identified an array of screeening instruments and practice principles that, if used appropriately, can provide timely information to guide those decisions. It also provides guidance on developing collaborative efforts to improve outcomes for families."

According to SAMSHA, the SAFERR will help staff:

• Create and guide collaborative teams who can improve services to families by sharing information and coordinating services.

• Support the work of those teams by developing clear expectations regarding mission, authority and accountability.

• Identify and address state-level policies that may block efficient practice;
• Select screening and assessment tools and strategies that can be incorporated into daily practice.

• Support and oversee the implementation of improved practices at the local level.

• Monitor and evaluate successes and problems.

Copies of the free guidebook can be ordered online. Copies can also be obtained free of charge from the SAMHSA Health Information Network (SHIN) at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727). Request inventory number SMA-07-4261.

More Information:

• Did You Grow Up with a Problem Drinker?
  
• What to Tell Children About a Parent's Addiction
  
• Resilience Is Key for Children of Addicts

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