Research
Services used by perinatal substance-users with child welfare involvement: a descriptive study
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* Corresponding author: Jean E Twomey jtwomey@wihri.org
- † Equal contributors
1 Regional Child Protection Center, Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, IA 50309 USA
2 Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
3 Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, USA
4 National Perinatal Information Center, Providence, RI, USA
5 Department of Psychology, Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick, RI, USA
Harm Reduction Journal 2010, 7:19 doi:10.1186/1477-7517-7-19
Published: 31 August 2010Abstract
Background
Substance use during pregnancy often leads to involvement in the child welfare system, resulting in multiple social service systems and service providers working with families to achieve successful child welfare outcomes. The Vulnerable Infants Program of Rhode Island (VIP-RI) is a care coordination program developed to work with perinatal substance-users to optimize opportunities for reunification and promote permanency for substance-exposed infants. This paper describes services used by VIP-RI participants and child welfare outcomes.
Methods
Data collected during the first four years of VIP-RI were used to identify characteristics of program participants, services received, and child welfare outcomes: closed child welfare cases, reunification with biological mothers and identified infant permanent placements.
Descriptive Results
Medical and financial services were associated with positive child welfare outcomes. Medical services included family planning, pre- and post-natal care and HIV test counseling. Financial services included assistance with obtaining entitlement benefits and receiving tangible support such as food and clothing.
Conclusions
Findings from this study suggest services that address basic family needs were related to positive child welfare outcomes. The provision of basic services, such as health care and financial assistance through entitlement benefits and tangible donations, may help to establish a foundation so mothers can concentrate on recovery and parenting skills. Identification of services for perinatal substance users that are associated with more successful child welfare outcomes has implications for the child welfare system, treatment providers, courts and families.