Child Welfare: What to Give Drug Treatment
When child welfare and drug treatment professionals share a client, they need to exchange information. But what should be shared? Who really needs what?
The first step is to make sure the client has signed appropriate consent forms, allowing the drug treatment provider to communicate with the child welfare agency. This consent can be filled out as part of the admissions interview.
At referral – When a client is referred over to a drug treatment program, the referral should be accompanied by:
- Reason for referral and possible alcohol or other drug issues
- Screening and assessment results
- Confirmation of waivers signed
- Drug and alcohol history
- History of child welfare involvement
- Household composition and any children previously removed
- Client identifying information for benefits
- Status of children and visiting schedule
- List of services mandated
- Name and contact information of caseworker
Throughout the life of the case - Information should continue to flow back and forth throughout the treatment process (or life of the case, whichever ends first). In order for drug treatment professionals to be active partners in a case, they need to stay updated on:
- Court dates
- Service Plan Review/Family Team Conference dates
- Information on child custody
- Results of any court or agency-conducted urine screens
- Ongoing status related to child
- Changes in visiting plan
- Status of court case
Because not all drug treatment professionals understand child welfare, caseworkers may need to spend a little bit of time explaining:
- ASFA
- permanency goal options
- the different ways drug treatment professionals can participate in SPRs or family team conferences
- the importance of regular visits
