Helping Substance-Abusing Mothers in the Child-Welfare System: Turning Crisis into Opportunity

Abstract

This paper integrates in-depth interviews with eight mothers and existing relative literature, explaining the recovery journey of substance-abusing mothers in the child-welfare system. The results show that these mothers longed for a mainstream dream (a better life, meaningful relationships, and self-actualization), perhaps because of, as well as for the sake of, their children. However, for them to achieve their dreams, the support of various external systems is necessary—treating mothers and children as one unit, facilitating nonusing social networks, and providing case-management and life-skills training. Child protective service caseworkers can serve as key persons to help these mothers turn crisis into opportunity.

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