Making evaluation work in a substance abuse treatment program for women with children: Olivia's House

Olivia's House represents the development and implementation of an innovative substance abuse treatment program for drug-dependent, primarily African-American women with children. This article discusses the prevalence of problems related to women and drug abuse; describes the philosophy and continuum of care of Olivia's House; delineates the program, process, outcome, dissemination, and training components of the evaluation protocol; presents preliminary evaluation findings as they relate to the overall goals of Olivia's House: and points out the obstacles to the evaluation of a residential drug abuse treatment program from women and children. This article is targeted to substance abuse service providers and evaluators challenged with the effective delivery and accountability of meaningful treatment services to persons with substance use disorders.