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20 Child L. Prac. 1 (2001-2002)

handle is hein.journals/chilawpt20 and id is 1 raw text is: Special Focus: Substa nce Abuse 1i1d Practice Vol. 20 No. I March 2001 Helping Lawyers Help Kids Relapse and Recovery: Making Home Safe for Children by Sharcii G. Elstehi T here is no 100%-guaranteed cure for substance abuse. Enrolling in a treatment program does not ensure an ad- dicted parent will complete the program and never use drugs or alcohol again. Research shows most substance abusers, espe- cially drug-dependent females, cycle in and out of sobriety. Recovery is a life-long process. The child welfare system offers little support for relapse prevention post- treatment. If the goal is reunification, child welfare workers must recom- mend if, and under what circum- stances, a child may return home, knowing the parent may be without help. Parents addressing drug or alcohol addiction need long-temi help, whether their child remains with them during treatment or is moved into foster care with the goal of reunifica- tion.' As a child welfare professional, how do you make permanency plan- ning decisions and prepare for reunifi- cation in the context of life-long re- covery from addiction? What factors help determine when it is safe for a child to be home? What supports in- crease the odds of a home remaining safe and prevent the child from reen- tering the child welfare system? Treating Addiction Getting a parent into treatment is difficult. Getting the parent to com- plete treatment is much harder. In one study, caseworkers in Illinois and California (representing one-quarter of America's children in foster care) were surveyed about their cases. They reported: * nearly 40% of substance-abusing parents in each state did not enter treatment; * 40% in each state had entered treatment but relapsed; * only 20% in each state had success- fully completed or were in treatment at the time of the study.2 Research shows caseworkers may not know about local treatment pro- grams, and there may be no area rro- grams that accept parents with the ir children.' Parents working with the child welfare system may resist go- ing into treatment, due to their anger at the system that took their children away.4 Further, treatment for addiction does not necessarily address or resolve parenting issues, mental health prob- This article is the fourth in a series focusing on substance abuse in the child welfare systen. Funding for this series was provided in part by tie David and Lucile Packard Foundation. lems, abusive relationships, or em- ployment, transportation or housing is- sues, which likely impact on progress in recovery.' Relapse is Part of Recovery Relapse is virtually a given. Most treatment providers expect addicts to slip in and out of treatment and abstinence; in fact, treatment program drop-out rates are routinely 50%.1 In one study of five outpatient treatment programs, relapse occurred in 37-78% of the clients.' Most treatment pro- grams accept that addicts nee' one to two years of treatment to sustain abstinence.' Even then, reabuse of drugs or alcohol is likely. Progress in substance abuse treat- ment and through recovery is accom- plished in stages, each with its own (Continiued nemt page) What's Inside: 3 CASE LAW UPDATE II IN PRACTICE When Your Client Has a Criminal Record and Wants to Foster or Adopt: Tips for Attorneys 14 SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS A Win for Sibling Visitation 15 FROM THE BENCH Appellate Delays 16 NEW IN PRINT E-mail: childlawpractice@staff.abanet.org * Internet: http://www.abanet.org/child

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