This study explored the sense of community among women (n = 21) and women with children (n = 30) living in Oxford Houses, with emphasis on how the presence of children might affect the household. Sense of community did not vary between participants with more or less than three months residence. Residents reported very high levels of satisfaction with the home, possibly because of a ceiling effect of little room for increases in their sense of community over time. Participants reported that they were getting along with the children in the home, that mothers could count on babysitting help, and that the children had a positive effect on the household and their own recovery process. This effect did not differ between mothers and non-mothers, suggesting that non-mothers might view the children in the home with a sense of responsibility and sensitivity comparable to that of the mothers. Implications are discussed.

Low-level drug offenses are presently the top reason women are sent to jail. Because more than 70% of these incarcerated women are the primary caretakers of children, incarceration has resulted in a sharp rise in foster care demand. Research suggests that incarcerated women who remain with their children are more likely to enter and complete treatment. This paper reviews the effects of incarceration and the available treatment options for substance-abusing women with children. A self-supported, self-run, alternative treatment model known as Oxford Lucia d'Arlach and Carmen E. Curtis were affiliated with Department of Psychology, DePaul University at the time of submission of the manuscript.