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Brief 1: Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol

Brief 1: Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2021

Brief 1: This resource offers key steps for child welfare agency policymakers to consider when developing a drug testing policy for child welfare practice. Please take note of the publication date of this resource. NCSACW regards the included information as foundational. Certain details, such as data, assessment instruments, practices, or jurisdictional examples, may no longer be current.

View Document (PDF 11.8 MB)

Topic(s): Drug Testing

Section: Policy and Practice Resources

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

Administration for Children & FamiliesSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare