Back From the Brink
Workers, administrators, and policymakers are overwhelmed with the challenge of mothers on crack cocaine. Some say it is a hopeless situation and that users' parental rights should be terminated. At the same time, the foster care system is overburdened, and finding adoptive parents is hard. Even those with hope that change can occur don't really know what to do. This tool is a response to these concerns.
What is "Back From the Brink"?
This tool is an examination of the literature on women and crack cocaine, on treatment programs that are working and not working, on drug programs for women, and on the effect of crack on infants and children. It also looks at promising programs and changes in the child welfare system at the different levels of frontline, administration, and policymaking in order to increase our ability to be effective with families affected by crack cocaine.
How was this tool applied in Family to Family?
Widely distributed in Family to Family sites, this tool served as the basis for the design and implementation of much of the training that was provided as we began to implement new models.
What did we learn from these applications?
We found that people are hungry for information on this topic, and that for the most part they are very willing to examine their stereotypes and respond to the data. We also learned that it is completely understandable that child welfare systems do not have much success in helping women on crack. Our systems do not use methods that data and field experience both indicate would work. We must build on people's strengths, use a holistic approach, individually tailor our strategies, involve people in decisions about their treatment, and set specific short-term goals to monitor their progress. We also must select workers who are empathetic. They must be trained in ways to enhance motivation and prevent relapses.
This tool was written with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. It summarizes and analyzes some of the empirical and anecdotal information that has emerged as social scientists and practitioners struggle to understand and overcome the challenges of crack cocaine. It assesses the current status of our effectiveness in serving crack-addicted women and presents some of the specific ways we can change at the systemic, model design, and frontline practice levels.
Section I evaluates empirical and anecdotal information on its relevance for the child welfare system and how social workers might best protect and nurture children whose lives are touched by crack. It describes the effects of crack on the women who use it, the varying viewpoints on the ability of mothers to control their use, and the drug's effect on parenting.
Section II discusses our current effectiveness in assessing, engaging, facilitating, and maintaining change in crack-addicted women. It offers information to help set goals and develop plans for moving beyond our current status. The problems of women and crack are difficult and complicated and we have many possible ways to improve our response to them.
Section III presents some specific ways to bring change at the systemic, model design, and frontline practice levels. It discusses the importance of setting up partnerships with others, shifting funds, and removing barriers on the systemic level; includes program features that are promising on the model design level; and describes selecting and training for essential worker characteristics and skills on the frontline level.
What you need to get started:
All that is necessary is in the complete paper, "Back From the Brink," which is available from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 410.547.6600.
What you need for full implementation:
Give copies of the tool to frontline worker teams, supervisors, administrators, and policymakers. Discuss ways to make changes at all these levels. Get consultation on ways your current programs might be adapted to better meet the needs of drug-affected families, or how you might design a new approach that would fit your human services system.
How to find out more:
resources, examples, references:
Consultants able to answer questions or lead discussions include Jill Kinney 253.927.7547 and Kathy Strand 253.627.3533.