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Critical Need: Substance Abuse Treatment for Women with Children

NCJ Number
187482
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 63 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2001 Pages: 88-91
Author(s)
Arthur F. Miller
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
February 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article looks at the critical need and availability of substance abuse treatment programs and facilities for women with young children.
Abstract
According to the Addiction Resource Guide, there are only four accredited substance abuse treatment facilities for women and their children in the entire country. As a result, the implementation of local outpatient programs may be the only realistic option for meeting these women’s needs. A treatment program needs to address what clients believe to be a family’s most significant problem(s) or they are likely to view the program as useless. Although suitable residential treatment is scarce, the demand is great and the adult supervision and substance abuse treatment professional’s caseload is increasingly comprised of drug-dependent single mothers. Until more residential treatment is available, proactive communities will need to promote an environment that encourages interagency cooperation and they will need to provide adequate support, both government-sponsored and from the community, for pragmatic outpatient substance abuse treatment programs. The article provides a brief overview of three outpatient family skills training programs, as well as a brief description of the four currently available treatment facilities for women and children. References