The average length of stay for these children is 34 months. More than half of them have been in foster care longer than 18 months. Children whose parents abuse alcohol and drugs are almost three times more likely to be abused and more than four times more likely to be neglected than children of parents who do not abuse alcohol and drugs. Existing AOD treatment services are not adequate or appropriate for families in the child welfare system. Nationally there is a shortage in all types of publicly funded substance abuse treatment opportunities for those in need, especially for women.
All states report long waiting lists for services.
Substance abuse treatment services that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of women and parents are in chronically short supply. Parents with AOD problems in the child welfare system have multiple and especially complex problems. Engagement and retention strategies require special attention to ensure completion of treatment. Alcohol and drug abuse are treatable public health problems with effective remedies. Experts report that drug addiction treatment works as well as treatment for other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.