0555b664__Alcohol_and_Other_Drug_Issues__Program_Improvement_Plan__PIP_
[State] Missouri Among all reasons identified for children coming to the attention of the child welfare agency, neglect (not including medical neglect) was cited in 25 (50%) cases, substance abuse by parents was cited in 18 (36%) cases. Primary reasons for opening a child welfare agency case included substance abuse by parent in 8 cases (16%). The State has critical gaps in its service array, particularly in the areas of mental health services and substance abuse treatment. Services provided to the families to protect child(ren) in home and prevent removal included, but were not limited to,individual and family counseling and therapy, homemaker services, parent aide services, domestic violence services, legal services, health and dental care services through Medicaid, intensive in-home services, parenting classes, anger management and behavioral control classes, case management, housing services, education-related services, mental health assessment and treatment services, substance abuse assessment and treatment services, mentors for children, referrals for Food Stamps and energy assistance, and referrals for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. In one county, stakeholders reported that if parents do not admit to drug use and there is no actual proof, the court will not support the agency�s request for substance abuse treatment or urinalysis unless the parent agrees voluntarily. In many cases, reviewers identified serious problems in the family that the agency did not address but that had a high potential for contributing to risk of harm to children. These included, but were not limited to, sexual abuse perpetrated by a sibling, parental substance abuse (which was ongoing while children remained in the home), self-mutilation by an adolescent girl, evidence of physical injuries to a child, evidence of neglect, and a mother discontinuing a 6-year-old child�s therapy for sexual abuse because the mother did not believe the child had been abused despite the child testing positive for a sexually transmitted disease. Stakeholders attributed delayed reunification to (1) an agency practice of keeping children in foster care (e.g., in a trial home visit) even after safety issues have been resolved, (2) parental relapse into substance abuse, (3) incarceration of parents, (4) lack of adequate housing, and (5) scarcity of services for parents. Stakeholders reported that when parents are able to and willing to access services reunification occurs in a timely manner. A few stakeholders indicated that the court sometimes will not place children with relatives because there is a perception that some problems, such as substance abuse, are intergenerational or are likely to be exhibited by more than one family member. Other stakeholders suggested that agency children�s service workers need to be more diligent in seeking appropriate relatives. Stakeholders noted that the child welfare agency has difficulty obtaining psychological services and substance abuse treatment services for children through the State mental health agencies. Stakeholders identified the gaps in services in in-patient and outpatient substance abuse services and aftercare. The Statewide Assessment noted that a Perinatal Substance Abuse Advisory Committee is working to meet the needs of drug-exposed infants and mothers
Increase the ability of staff and families to access Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (ADA) through Family Drug and Safety Trainings�
A Review of Alcohol and Other Drug Issues
Program Improvement Plan (PIP)