Tag Archives: Services

Supporting Children of Parents with Co-occurring Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

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June 2012, Research To Practice Brief, National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center:

It is well documented in the literature that children growing up in homes headed by a parent with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are at an increased risk for a multitude of psychosocial complications. These children are commonly exposed to ongoing stressors that can have a cumulative impact on their behavior and development. In a three-year longitudinal study, researchers found that the risk of child behavior problems increased with the number of areas in which the mother reported difficulties. Unfortunately, in families with parental co-occurring disorders, multiple difficulties are commonplace. This brief suggests a number of services and supports for such families. Link to pdf Practice Brief

Special Needs Do Not Disappear with Adoption: The Need for Post-Adoption Services

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July 26-28, NACAC Conference: About 90% of the children in foster care have “special needs,” representing challenges in placing them for adoption. Specialized support and preservation services save families and benefit society. The types of post adoption services required to help many of these families clearly go beyond weekly counseling sessions; they involve:

• family therapeutic interventions with home-based service availability

• 24-hour phone support in emergencies

• advocacy for other needed services (educational, diagnostic, etc.)

• child and parent support groups

• case coordination with other professionals

• respite care

Workers providing these services need specialized training in a range of competencies and interventions. Evaluations of such programs that exist in two states document their effectiveness (Smith & Howard, 1999; Atkinson & Gonet, 2007). Link to Conference Handouts

Enhanced Services to Children and Youth Exposed to Domestic Violence

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January 2012: Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This Guide captures the promising practices and lessons learned from nine demonstration projects funded by the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during 2005 through 2008. These Demonstration of Enhanced Services to Children and Youth Exposed to Domestic Violence sites expanded the fields’ understanding of the varied ways in which children, youth and families experiencing domestic violence can be identified and provided essential services and supports. The Guide showcases these nine demonstration projects, focusing on their goals, collaborative partnerships, experiences, challenges, and successes. The voices of domestic violence victim

advocates at the local and state level, as well as therapists and researchers, are threaded throughout showcase narratives. Their accounts of the promising practices developed and the lessons learned along the way offer the reader a unique opportunity to share in and learn from their experiences. Link to pdf Guide; See also:  Violence Against Women Website – contains details of studies including two commentaries on Michigan studies.

Recent CA&N Articles May 2008

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Some recent media articles relating to child abuse and neglect.  If you have items that you think would be helpful to include in this occasional post, please forward them to me at the email in my signature block.  
 
These stories were chosen because of their perceived relevance to the child welfare community.  MiPSAC is not responsible for the views expressed in any of these articles, nor does it take a position for or against the positions expressed in the articles.  They are presented merely to provide a sampling of what the media is saying about child welfare.  
 
Charlie Enright, JD, MSW, LMSW
4907 Foster Rd.
Midland, MI  48642
(989) 832-9628
[email protected]
 
 
 
Texas Supreme Court deals blow to CPS in polygamy case
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – Thursday, May 29th
JOHN MORITZ AUSTIN — Child Protective Services overreached its authority when it seized more than 400 youngsters from a West Texas polygamist camp last month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Thursday.  The high court let stand an appellate court’s order that the children should be returned to their parents.  (Ed. Note: Not so!  Opinion only applies to the thirty-eight mothers who petitioned the court of appeals, seeking return of their 126 children. The record reflects that at least 117 of the children are under 13 and that two boys are 13 and 17. The ages of the other seven, at least two of whom are boys, are not shown.  The Opinion has not been applied yet to any other children.  It certainly would not apply to underage mothers and pregnant girls.) You may find reading the Court’s short opinion to be more helpful than the news articles.
Full article click here.


Texas Supreme Court Decision:
Full article click here.

Talks stall in suit against Mich. foster care system
 An AP article on MLive.com Thursday, May 29th reports that, “Settlement talks have broken down again in a federal class-action lawsuit against Michigan’s foster care system.” (AP/MLive.com)
Full article click here.  
 
Report: Abuse of children widespread in war zones 
The Oakland Press – May 28 5:24 AM
LONDON (AP) — Save the Children UK said in a report released Tuesday that it has uncovered evidence of widespread sexual abuse of children at the hands of peacekeepers and international aid workers in war zones and disaster areas.
Read full article here —


Fair set to roll out family fun, pointers for parents
Livingston County Daily Press & Argus – May 26 2:08 AM
The Child Abuse Prevention Council will kick off the summer with its annual CAP Kids’ Fair on Saturday in Pinckney.
Full article here — 
 
Foster care policies evolve

An article in Sunday, May 25th’s Ann Arbor News
The number of children entering foster care in Washtenaw County has dropped significantly in recent years.  Susan Reynolds Bunton, services program section manager at the Washtenaw County Department of Human Services, talked with The News about the reason for the drop and about other foster care trends in Washtenaw County.
Full article here —


Adults get tips to prevent, act on child sex abuse
Detroit News – May 25 10:23 PM
Acts of sexual abuse against a child are difficult for most adults to comprehend, but a new program aims to make sure they aren’t difficult to report.
Full article here —

Boy gets counseling in school bus sex act 
An article in Saturday, May 24th’s Detroit News reports that, “A 10-year-old boy accused of forcing a 7-year-old to perform oral sex while on a Howell Public Schools’ bus was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to undergo counseling and random drug testing.” (Detroit News)
Full article here —   

No-shows face sex charges
An article in Friday, May 23rd’s Detroit Free Press reports that, “State Attorney General Mike Cox said the arrest of 11 men as Internet predators for allegedly soliciting minor children online for sex was a Michigan first because the suspects did not ultimately travel to meet their targets.”
Full article here —