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Federal Sponsors

National attention to substance use disorders and mental health challenges among families involved with child welfare led to the creation of the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW). Funding for this Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative comes from and the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), Children's Bureau's Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

HHS' mission is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.

Administration for Children & Families (ACF)

ACF, a division of HHS, promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. Their mission is to foster health and well-being by providing federal leadership, partnership, and resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services.

Children’s Bureau (CB)

CB partners with federal, state, tribal and local agencies to improve the overall health and well-being of our nation’s children and families. With an annual budget of almost $8 billion, the Children’s Bureau provides support and guidance to programs that focus on strengthening families, protecting children, and ensuring that every child and youth has a permanent family or family connection.

Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN)

OCAN, part of CB, provides leadership and direction on the issues of child maltreatment and the prevention of abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). . They are the focal point for interagency collaborative efforts, national conferences, and special initiatives related to child abuse and neglect, and for coordinating activities related to the prevention of abuse and neglect and the protection of children at-risk. They support activities to build networks of community-based, prevention-focused family resource and support programs through the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program. They support improvement in the systems that handle child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation and maltreatment related fatalities, and improvement in the investigation and prosecution of these cases through the  Children's Justice Act.

For questions about the NCSACW please contact:

Dori Sneddon, Children’s Bureau, Contracting Officer’s Representative

Surina A. Amin, Children’s Bureau NCSACW Program Task Lead

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)

CSAT's mission is to promote community-based SUD treatment and recovery support services for individuals and families in every community. CSAT provides national leadership to improve access, reduce barriers, and promote high-quality, life-saving, and effective treatment and recovery support services.

For questions please contact:

Amy B. Smith, SAMHSA Alternate Contracting Officer’s Representative

Find Help with a Personal Situation

Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment Locator

To find treatment facilities confidentially, 24/7, please call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP).

To locate general treatment services, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Treatment Locator online or call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP). This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. It is a free, confidential, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a year information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members needing treatment for a mental and/or substance use disorder.

National Child Abuse Hotline

If you suspect a child has been harmed by abuse or neglect, please call 1-800-422-4453.

If you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Serving the United States and Canada, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. All calls, texts, and chats are confidential. If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.

National Suicide Prevention Line

For free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7, please call or text 988, chat 988Lifeline.org, or call 1-800-273-8255.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, help is available and there are options to receive compassionate care. You can call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Both are confidential and available 24/7 to everyone in the United States and will connect you to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.

Contact Us

The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare offers free technical assistance to a variety of systems on making policy and practice changes to improve outcomes for families affected by substance use disorders and involvement with child welfare services. To learn more about technical assistance services or if you have a question please email NCSACW at ncsacw@cffutures.org or call toll-free at 1–866–493–2758.

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare