Substance Abuse Education and Field Training
Child Welfare Partnership between Arkansas State University Title IV-E
And
Area 8 Division of Children and Family Services
In response to the overwhelming numbers of cases that involved drug use and abuse by family members, the management of area 8 DCFS requested that the ASU Title IV-E Child Welfare Staff members develop and provide a comprehensive education/field training approach to meet the training needs of county supervisors, family service workers, and social service aides on substance abuse issues.
The majority of children entering foster care in Arkansas are doing so for reasons either directly or indirectly related to substance use and abuse. The risks for children to be neglected, unsupervised, physically, emotionally and sexually maltreatment escalate dramatically when substance use or abuse occurs in the child’s home and especially when the child’s primary caretaker is the user.
The ASU Title IV-E Substance Abuse Education Program was implemented in the 2006-2007 contract year with 8 DCFS participants including the area manager, area staff, county supervisors, investigators and case workers. Currently, 11 DCFS staff members are participating in monthly education on substance abuse issues, attendance at the state substance abuse conference, and monthly case consultation from an ASU Field Trainer on cases in which substance abuse is a major issue for child safety, permanency, and well being.
Indicators of Substance Abuse |
||
Envrionmental Indicators |
Behavioral Indicators |
Physical Indications of Parental Substance Abuse |
| Home infested with rodents and insects | Irritability/aggression/paranoia | Increased alertness/activity |
| Chaotic environment (dirty clothes, dirty dishes) | Memory problems/not age related | Increased/Decreased sleep or sleeplessness |
| Yard cluttered and littered | Missed appointments | Abnormal Sweating |
| Drug paraphernalia (razor blades, syringes, pipes) | Depression/anxiety | Skin lesions/open sore/"track marks" |
| Inoperable bathroom facilites | Nasal problems (sniffing) | Body oder (chemical smell) |
| Guns | Twitching/shaking, or involuntary body movements | Age innappropriate thinning hair/ brittle hair |
| Pornographic material | Visual or auditory | Eye Movements (Move rapidly/ enable to focus or glassy eyes) |
| Inappropriate play/sleep areas for children | Hyperactivity | Increased respiratory rate |
| Large or vicious dogs | Lethargy (crashing) | Poor dental hygiene. rotting teeth/ no teeth |
| Refrigerator (absence/presence of food, chemicals being stored) | Frequent accidents (often unexplained) | Nasal Problems |
| Presence of booby traps | Personality changes/inconsistent behavior | Nausea, Vomiting, diarrhea |
| Presence of large amounts of cold medicine | Inconsistent attention to child's emotional and physical needs | Unexplained weight loss |
| Excess matches, propane tanks, coffee filters, drain cleaner, lithium batteries, and hot plates | Tweaking | Itching/scratching of, "imaginary" bugs/insects on skin |
| Unidentified oders (ammonia smell) | Lying | Innappropriate clothing (wearing long sleeves in hot weather) |
| Windows covered with foil or black plastic | Flat affect/ inappropriate affect | Petechiae (minute red spots near the surface of the skin) |
| Police scanners | Large bulbous nose (seen in males) | |
| Sign posting/no trespassing | ||
| Excessive traffic | ||
| Unexplained poverty or wealth | ||
Important Links on Substance Abuse:
- Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.samhsa.gov
- Center on Substance Abuse Prevention:
http://www.prevention.samsha.gov - National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information:
http://www.ncadi.samsha.gov - Substance Abuse Facility Locator
http://www.dasis3.samsha.gov - Arkansas MidSOUTH Addictions Training Network:
http://www.midsouth.ualr.edu/index_at.html - Arkansas MidSOUTH Addictions Training Network Training Catalog for 2008-2009
http://www.midsouth.ualr.edu//msatn/0809%20MSATN%20Catalog%20(printer%20
friendly%20for%20web).pdf - Arkansas MidSOUTH Addictions Training Scholarship Application
http://www.midsouth.ualr.edu/scholarship_application.pdf - Arkansas MidSOUTH Training Addictions Training Registration Form
http://www.midsouth.ualr.edu/msatn/Registration%20Form%200809%20MSATN%
20for%20duplication.pdf - Arkansas MidSOUTH Addictions Training Registration on line:
http://www.peopleware.net/index.cfm?siteCode=1915&&CFID=18529726&CFTOK
EN=5d7d1c0-9873d80b-d55e-4420-8e25-1d759ccd01d7
