Project

Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare

about the project

Topics

Capabilities

Status

Client

Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Prenatal exposure to substances, particularly alcohol, can cause damage that persists for a lifetime.

The potential effects include physical, developmental, behavioral, and cognitive issues. About two-thirds of families involved in the child welfare system struggle with substance use, but little is known about the extent of prenatal exposure in those families or how it is addressed. This project is examining methods for identifying and serving children in the child welfare system who are affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol and other substances, including opioids.

The work includes—

  • A comprehensive literature review to understand current and promising policies and practices among child welfare agencies and service providers related to prenatal exposure
  • Design and implementation of a study of current practices, including data collection and analysis
  • Development of guidance on best practices for services and workforce training

The results will lay the groundwork for improved care and outcomes for children, reliable prevalence data, and appropriate allocation of resources.

Staff

  • Erin Ingoldsby, Ph.D. Director

    Erin Ingoldsby has 30 years of experience in applied research, program evaluation, and evaluation technical assistance in various content areas, including child...

  • Erin Geary, Ph.D., M.S.W. Senior Research Associate

    Erin Geary has more than 15 years of experience in program evaluation, project management, and technical assistance. His skills include designing...

  • James DeSantis James P. DeSantis, Ph.D. Vice President

    James P. DeSantis is an applied developmental psychologist with 35 years of experience in research and evaluation, training and technical assistance in...

  • Nicole M. Miller, M.S.W. Senior Research Associate

    Nicole Miller has 25 years of experience in child welfare with a focus on the implementation and evaluation of programs and services that support families and...

Partner

ICF

Resources

about the project

Topics

Capabilities

Status

Client

Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention