Parental substance misuse and child welfare system involvement: findings from a community sample of parents and primary caregivers

A substantial number of parents who come in contact with state child welfare agencies report substance misuse; however, little is known about their unique characteristics and experiences. The present study was based on a community sample of parents reporting past or current child welfare involvement (n = 177), about half of whom disclosed a history of substance misuse. We examined these parents’ demographics, patterns of substance misuse, and treatment utilization, as well as their perceptions of child welfare workers. Findings revealed that parents who reported substance misuse were more likely to identify as male and sexually diverse; more likely to experience child removals; and more likely to have a history of child welfare involvement in their original families. Nearly two-thirds of parents who misused substances utilized some form of treatment in the past year, and over 40% used medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Parents commonly expressed concerns about utilizing substance use treatment due to fears of losing custody of their children. In addition, many reported negative perceptions of child welfare workers, such as lack of empathy, bias and shaming, and limited understanding of substance use and its effects. Implications for child welfare practice and research will be discussed.