Substance abuse-affected families in the child welfare system: new challenges, new alliances

During the past decade a record number of single-parent families entered the child welfare system because the mother had an identified problem of substance abuse. These trends have forced child welfare agencies and substance abuse treatment providers to take a new look at the needs of mothers with problems of chemical dependency and their children. This article examines the issues that face child welfare and substance abuse treatment professionals as they attempt to address these new challenges and recommends strategies for forging new alliances and closing gaps in service delivery. The article calls for action to end the oppression that hampers efforts to effectively serve these families.