Parents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse conditions involved in child protection services: clinical profile and treatment needs

This article reports findings of an exploratory study of 71 parents with substance abuse conditions involved in a child dependency court. Over half (59%) of the parents had a co-occurring mental health condition. Parents with co-occurring conditions (PWCC) differed in several important ways from those with only substance abuse conditions. PWCC were also more likely than their case managers were to report a need for mental health treatment. Implications for child welfare practice and research are offered.
Parental substance abuse has dearly been identified as a major contributing factor in cases of child abuse and neglect since the mid-1980s. Current estimates from national studies suggest that 50 [...]