Concurrent Treatment of Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment

Concurrent Treatment of Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment

The co-occurrence of child maltreatment and parental substance-use problems is a major public health problem with serious consequences for children, parents, families, and the community at large. The need for effective dual treatment of caregiver substance abuse and child maltreatment is unquestionable, but there is a dearth of controlled treatment outcome studies with substance-using parents who have engaged in child maltreatment. This project examines two evidence-based treatments-Contingency Management for substance-use problems and Pathways Triple P parenting intervention to improve parenting for prevention of child-maltreatment recurrence. These two systematic interventions are being tested in the context of traditional outpatient treatment for substance-use problems.

Inclusion Criteria:

• open child protective services case for child maltreatment
• beginning intensive outpatient treatment for drug or alcohol use problem
• at least one child 2-8 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• not primary custodial parent for child 2-8 years of age
• serious mental illness
• residing outside the two participating counties