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Parents with substance use disorders (SUD) require treatment and support in order to provide children with appropriate care and protection. Using the 2012 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), this paper analysed 464 313 substantiated child maltreatment reports to determine (i) the proportion and characteristics of reports involving substance abuse; and (ii) the child and caregiver/perpetrator (C/P) characteristics that predicted referral to treatment as recorded in service plans. Findings indicate that 12% ( N = 53 234) of maltreatment reports involved C/P SUD. Yet, of those reports, only (19%) ( N = 10 088) were referred to substance abuse treatment as part of their service plan, indicating a large gap between those who need treatment and those who receive it. This finding is important given that parental SUD is consistently linked to poorer child outcomes. Amongst other variables, reports indicate that C/P with co-occurring emotional disturbance were three times more likely to be referred to treatment for SUD as part of service plans. Additional research is needed regarding the characteristics that distinguish C/P who receive referrals for SUD treatment in substantiated cases of child maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a matter of policy, public and private purchasers of substance abuse treatment services are requiring the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. Social work practitioners and agency leaders should be familiar with EBPs specific to substance abuse treatment as they regularly serve individuals with substance use disorders. The goals of this article are to (a) provide a rationale for the movement toward EBPs in substance abuse treatment; (b) compare evidentiary standards for EBPs; (c) familiarize leaders of substance abuse treatment agencies with available resources on EBPs; (d) discuss the role of the single-state agency for substance abuse services (SSA) in creating a culture that supports the development, adoption, implementation and evaluation of EBPs; and (e) highlight the variables that influence the implementation of EBPs on an agency level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]