Felicia Wang
Research Mentor(s): Beth Reed
Mentor Department: Women’s Studies LSA
Authors: Felicia Wang, Beth Glover Reed, Sabrina Zheng, Lauren Whitmer
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 87
Abstract
Substance abuse (SA) and domestic violence (DV) often co-occur, creating challenges for families and negatively impacting children’s well-being. It can lead to family instability, increasing the likelihood of children going into foster care. While existing research has analyzed the individual effects of SA and DV, it is necessary to find integrated approaches that address both issues simultaneously. Research shows that children exposed to both parental SA and DV may experience emotional, educational, and mental health deficits. However, there are limited studies that focus on both issues’ impact and the implications for interventions. This research aims to identify innovative practices and systemic barriers in supporting families facing both issues. This study addresses three main research questions: What innovative practices do organizations employ to address the co-occurrence of substance abuse (SA) and domestic violence (DV) in families at risk for child welfare involvement? What systemic barriers do organizations face when attempting to integrate services for families affected by both SA and DV? What methods do organizations use to promote positive parenting in mothers affected by both SA and DV? A mixed methods approach is used with qualitative and quantitative data from a survey, case studies that include information from interviews, surveys, and Guidestar, and a comparative case study database focused on children and families. Areas of focus include trauma-informed approaches, improving parenting skills, improving family dynamics, and preventing future occurrences of SA and DV. Addressing the co-occurrence of SA and DV is crucial for reducing trauma and instability within families and preventing children from entering foster care. This research contributes to filling a gap by finding innovative practices and systemic barriers to integrated services. However, limitations such as the availability and diversity of data from case studies could affect the generalizability of findings. Future research could evaluate the long-term effectiveness of integrated interventions, which could improve outcomes for vulnerable families.
