title: Medication-Assisted Treatment Improves Child Permanency Outcomes for Opioid-Using Families in the Child Welfare System.
abstract: Parents who use opioids and are involved in the child welfare system are less likely to retain custody of their children than parents who use other drugs. No previous studies have described medication-assisted treatment (MAT) utilization and child permanency outcomes for this population. The Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START) model is a child welfare-based intervention focused on families with co-occurring substance use and child abuse / neglect issues. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of MAT utilization among parents in the START program with a history of opioid use, and compared child outcomes for families who received MAT services to those who did not. Of the 596 individuals with a history of opioid use in the START program, 55 (9.2%) received MAT. Receipt of MAT services did not differ by gender, age, county of residence, or drug use, though individuals who identified as White were more likely to participate in MAT. In a multiple logistic regression model, additional months of MAT increased the odds of parents retaining custody of their children. To address barriers to MAT, results-focused educational interventions may be needed for the child welfare workforce, as well as programs to improve collaboration and decision-making between the child welfare workforce, court personnel, and drug addiction treatment providers.
authors: Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. Electronic address: martin.hall@louisville.edu.
authors: Martin T
authors: MT
authors: Hall
authors: Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.
authors: Jordan
authors: J
authors: Wilfong
authors: Eastern Kentucky University and Graduate Faculty, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors: Ruth A
authors: RA
authors: Huebner
authors: Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams, Kentucky Department for Community Based Services, Frankfort, KY.
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: Posze
authors: Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams, Kentucky Department for Community Based Services, Frankfort, KY.
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Willauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002655:Child Custody / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Child welfare; Medication-assisted treatment; Opioids