Perceptions of Strengths-Based Child Welfare Practices Among Mothers With Drug Use Histories

Abstract

Families in the child welfare system show especially poor outcomes when a parent has a drug use history. These parents may be difficult to engage, which may contribute to their failure to follow through with service planning and receipt. The child welfare system has historically emphasized risk and pathology and does not always use a strengths-based approach, although this has and can greatly increase client engagement. The current study involves data from mothers of young children receiving child welfare services ( n = 336) to examine individual and family risk factors and mothers’ perceptions of strengths-based practices by their caseworker. Roughly one third of women reported past year drug use. Mothers reporting drug use perceived four dimensions of strengths-based practice lower than mothers with no drug use history. Individual and family risks were associated with lower perceived strengths-based practices among mother who used drugs. Strengths-based practices with mothers with drug use histories are discussed.