Parental substance use and home visiting programs: Implementation considerations for relationship-based treatment

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Home visiting programs offer vital support for mothers in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) and their children.
• Families affected by maternal SUDs may require modified services compared to traditional child-focused approaches.
• Tailored interventions are needed to effectively integrate services for families impacted by SUDs within home visiting settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and facilitators for implementing a relationship-based parenting intervention (Mothering from the Inside Out) for parents with SUDs into home visiting programs.
• To inform the adaptation and integration of specialized services for families affected by SUDs.

Main Methods:

• Conducted nine interviews and five focus groups with a diverse sample of 38 parents and providers serving families affected by SUDs in the USA.
• Utilized qualitative content analysis to identify key implementation themes.

Main Results:

• Three primary themes emerged: engagement, training, and sustainability.
• The home visiting setting can reduce logistical barriers to access for families affected by SUDs.
• Relationship-based services can address emotional barriers experienced by parents with SUDs.

Conclusions:

• Home visiting programs can be optimized for families impacted by maternal SUDs.
• Adapting services to be relationship-based can enhance engagement and mitigate barriers for parents with SUDs.
• Successful implementation hinges on addressing engagement, training, and sustainability factors.