Parents Who Misuse Drugs and Alcohol
Effective Interventions in Social Work and Child Protection
Wiley Child Protection & Policy Series
January 2011
262 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
This book presents original research outlining the key elements in
responding to parental misuse of drugs and alcohol.
* Offers a definition of "misuse" and
"addiction" and the factors that influence the nature
of misuse or addiction
* Reviews extensively the nature and impact of parental substance
misuse on children and families using the latest evidence
* Explores how research and theories might help inform
professionals or non-professionals assessing families affected by
parents who misuse drugs or alcohol
* Provides an in-depth discussion of Motivational Interviewing,
including a critical discussion of the challenges and limitations
involved in using it in child and family settings
* Considers the wider implications of the findings for practice
and policy and argues that these responses can be used across the
field of work with vulnerable children and their families
Acknowledgements.
Part 1.
Introduction.
1 What is 'Substance Misuse'?
2 The Impact of Parental Substance Misuse on Child Welfare.
Part 2.
3 Parental Substance Misuse and Children's Services.
4 The Social Worker Assessments.
5 What Happened to the Children and Their Parents?
Part 3.
6 Assessment.
7 What Works in Engaging Parents Who Misuse Drugs or Alcohol?
8 What Works? Substance Misuse Treatment and Evidence-Based Social Work.
9 Motivational Interviewing and Effective Work with Families in which Parents Misuse Drugs and/or Alcohol.
10 Family Interventions with Parental Substance Misuse.
Conclusion.
References.
Index.
well-thumbed libraries that accrue in practice settings, and this
is one of them. I would regard it as essential reading for all
those seeking to develop or improve practice with
substance-misusing parents." (Oxford Journals Clippings, 1 January
2012)
"The practice of social work in relation to children at risk and
the problem of substance misuse are both high up the public policy
agenda and never out of the media spotlight. Forrester and Harwin
draw on their own important research and that of others to raise
challenging questions, not only about how social workers find it
difficult to deal effectively with parental alcohol and drug
problems, but also about the need to bring fresh thinking to social
work more generally. The issues they raise, in a thoroughly
engaging and scholarly way, make this a key text for all those
concerned about families and children at risk and about the future
of the social work profession.
--Jim Orford, Professor of Psychology,
University of Birmingham, UK
Judith Harwin is Professor of Social Work and Director of the Centre for Child and Youth Research at Brunel University.