Preventing Substance Abuse from Undermining Permanency Planning: Competencies at the Intersection of Culture, Chemical Dependency, and Child Welfare.

Abstract

Summary Caseworkers in child welfare are finding that substance abuse is one of the most serious problems facing their agencies today. Alcohol and other drag use decreases the likelihood of children., particularly children of color, remaining with their biological parents or returning to them from substitute care. This paper examines the tripartite intersection of culture, substance abuse, and permanency planning. It presents a typology for five competency areas for culturally relevant substance abuse knowledge, attitudes, and skills to strengthen permanency planning and family continuity for children of color.