Application of the Evaluation Framework for Program Improvement of START

Abstract

This study applies the Children's Bureau program evaluation framework (Framework Workgroup, 2014) to the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START) program, an integrated program between child welfare and substance abuse treatment. A cluster analysis of 673 START participants in 420 families identified three subgroups. Intact families retained child custody throughout treatment and achieved the highest rates of sobriety. Despite similar substance use disorders and loss of parental custody, group two was mostly reunified and group three was rarely reunified. Group differences in trends suggest a need for additional and innovative strategies to support program improvement.

Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams: Implementation Fidelity and Related Outcomes

“…However, the rates of child/parent reunification remained level, suggesting that some parents were unable to be reunited. Other research explores groups of families that achieved differing results (Huebner et al, 2015). These results support the notion that integrated treatment staff can arrive at some common understanding of when child placement is necessary and reunification advised; thus making more informed and nuanced team decisions.…”

“…Although not statistically significant, fourth year data of operation hinted at regression. Programs are constantly responding to new challenges such as a recent increase in heroin addiction; ongoing program evaluation is needed to sustain and improve program results (Huebner, Willauer, Posze, Hall, & Oliver, 2015). Maintaining child custody with substance abusing parents was and remains an emotional topic that required much thoughtful discussion and clarification with the courts, SUDS treatment providers, and CPS investigative staff.…”

“The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Factors Associated with Alcohol Use, Reduction, and Abstinence in Pregnancy

“…Interventions that address social and structural factors (e.g., childcare, housing, transportation, food/nutrition) that affect women’s ability to access services are often more effective in engaging women. For instance, collaborative models where providers work in a multi-service co-located program or network of services can result in higher referrals, attainment of treatment goals, and retained custody and greater reunification with their child(ren) if custody was lost [ 78 , 79 ]. Co-location of service providers can also create a better stream of communication across services, removing barriers and increasing women’s access to services [ 80 ].…”

Examining barriers to harm reduction and child welfare services for pregnant women and mothers who use substances using a stigma action framework

“…Collaborative models where child welfare and substance use service providers work as a team, or in the same location, can lead to higher referrals to and receipt of substance use services among child welfare clients (He, 2017). These models can also result in increased attainment of treatment goals, maintained custody and greater reunification if custody is lost (Huebner et al, 2015(Huebner et al, , 2018Rockhill et al, 2008).…”