TY - JOUR
T1 - Recovery coaches and substance exposed births
T2 - An experiment in child welfare
AU - Ryan, Joseph P.
AU - Choi, Sam
AU - Hong, Jun Sung
AU - Hernandez, Pedro
AU - Larrison, Christopher R.
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - Objectives: Substance exposed infants present a major challenge to child welfare and public health systems. Prenatal substance exposure and continued substance abuse in the home are associated with a wide range of adverse social, emotional, and developmental outcomes. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the use of recovery coaches in child welfare. Methods: The current study is longitudinal and utilizes an experimental design. The sample includes 931 substance abusing women enrolled in a Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration, 261 in the control group, and 670 in the experimental group. Women in the experimental group received traditional services plus the services of a recovery coach. Administrative records are used to indicate substance exposure at birth. Results: Of the 931 women enrolled in the waiver demonstration, 21% of the control group and 15% of the experimental group were associated with a subsequent substantiated allegation indicating substance exposure at birth. Cox proportional hazards modeling indicates that women in the experimental group were significantly less likely to be associated with a new substance exposed birth. Conclusions: The use of recovery coaches in child welfare significantly decreases the risk of substance exposure at birth. Integrated and comprehensive approaches are necessary for addressing the complex and co-occurring needs of families involved with child protection.
AB - Objectives: Substance exposed infants present a major challenge to child welfare and public health systems. Prenatal substance exposure and continued substance abuse in the home are associated with a wide range of adverse social, emotional, and developmental outcomes. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the use of recovery coaches in child welfare. Methods: The current study is longitudinal and utilizes an experimental design. The sample includes 931 substance abusing women enrolled in a Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration, 261 in the control group, and 670 in the experimental group. Women in the experimental group received traditional services plus the services of a recovery coach. Administrative records are used to indicate substance exposure at birth. Results: Of the 931 women enrolled in the waiver demonstration, 21% of the control group and 15% of the experimental group were associated with a subsequent substantiated allegation indicating substance exposure at birth. Cox proportional hazards modeling indicates that women in the experimental group were significantly less likely to be associated with a new substance exposed birth. Conclusions: The use of recovery coaches in child welfare significantly decreases the risk of substance exposure at birth. Integrated and comprehensive approaches are necessary for addressing the complex and co-occurring needs of families involved with child protection.
KW - Evaluation
KW - Substance abuse
KW - Substance exposed births
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=56549084555&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.12.011
DO - 10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.12.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 19036450
AN - SCOPUS:56549084555
SN - 0145-2134
VL - 32
SP - 1072
EP - 1079
JO - Child Abuse and Neglect
JF - Child Abuse and Neglect
IS - 11
ER -