Kentucky Program Improves Outcomes for Substance-Abusing Parents Involved in the Child Welfare System and Their Children

Physical Health, Child Welfare

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Kentucky is engaged in cross-system collaboration to meet the needs of young children with substance-abusing parents involved with the child welfare system. The Kentucky Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START) program uses an intensive intervention model that integrates addiction services, family preservation, community partnerships, and best practices in child welfare and substance abuse treatment. The program aims to reduce recurrence of child abuse and neglect, improve substance abuse treatment rates, build protective parenting capacities, and increase the county’s and state’s capacity to address co-occurring substance abuse and child maltreatment. It was adapted from the START model developed in Cleveland, Ohio.

START pairs specially trained child protective service (CPS) workers with family mentors, who have at least three years of sobriety and previous involvement with CPS, to work with families. The program also partners with substance abuse treatment providers to ensure START participants have quick access to intensive treatment. Decision-making is shared among all team members, including the family and court.

START is currently being implemented in four sites, three funded by the state and one funded by the Children’s Bureau through a Regional Partnership Grant. Eligibility varies slightly based on the community’s needs: one site serves families with substance-exposed newborns, two serve families with at least one child under three, and one serves families with children under six.

As of spring 2011, 320 families with 635 children have been served by START. In 70% of these cases, both parents received treatment services. Evaluation data show positive outcomes for participating parents and children. 67% percent of participating families have at least one parent who achieves and maintains sobriety, nearly double the 39% success rate in other treatment programs; and children in families served by START are 50% less likely to enter foster care when compared to similar children. A recent cost analysis found that for every $1 spent on START, the state avoids $2.52 in the cost of foster care. START has also been successful in bringing much-needed support services to underserved areas, especially in rural Appalachia.

For more information visit the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services at http://www.chfs.ky.gov


Updated July 2011