| |
Children at Greater Risk of Abuse and Neglect if Family Substance Abuse Treatment Unavailable
Briefing Discusses Link Between Child Welfare and Substance Abuse
For more information, contact
Joyce Johnson
Phone: 804/492-4519
Cell: 703/980-7641
E-mail: jjohnson@cwla.org
May 21, 2003, Washington, DC -- The millions of American children that lack safe and permanent families who can help them grow into healthy and productive adults due to the epidemic of substance abuse was the subject of a congressional briefing and photo exhibition, hosted by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights today.
The briefing, Not Without My Child: Expanding Substance Abuse Treatment For Families, was held in the Senate Russell Caucus Room (SR-325 Russell) today from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and sponsored by Senators Bill Frist (R-TN), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME). A compelling photo exhibition, Families in Recovery: In Portraits and Words, accompanies the briefing and will be on display from May 19-23 in the Russell Senate Rotunda.
"The epidemic of substance abuse in our society is a real threat to our children," said Elizabeth Meitner, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Child Welfare League of America. "With over 80% of the families that come to the attention of child welfare having a substance abuse problem, children are at greater risk of abuse and neglect if family substance abuse treatment remains hard to get."
Mothers portrayed in the photo exhibit and presenting at the briefing speak to the struggle of living with addiction and the transformative process of recovery. Connie Brooks, a mother in recovery after years of being addicted to crack cocaine who now works as a drug counselor for other families, reflects on why treatment for families is such a long process, usually up to a year or more. "You can't rush something that's making a person abuse drugs for 17 years," said Brooks.
In addition to mothers in recovery - Connie Brooks and Rosetta Kelley - and Elizabeth Meitner of the Child Welfare League of America, presenters at the congressional briefing include Dr. James Herrell, Social Science Analyst for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Dr. Johanna Ferman, CEO and Medical Director, The Center for Mental Health, Washington, DC; and Malika Saada Saar, Executive Director, the Rebecca Project for Human Rights.
The images and words of these families in recovery calls attention to the needs of families seeking to heal from the disease of addiction. Right now, only one-third of the families who need treatment are able to achieve any kind of access to appropriate treatment. The absence of family treatment hurts the whole family and in turn, society.
Portrayed in the exhibition and the briefing is the complex illustration of how parents with addiction issues, especially mothers, are also survivors of domestic and sexual violence and how these mothers use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate because of major depression and their experiences with trauma. The powerful personal stories and the findings of experts in the treatment field reflect a powerful narrative of the healing and success that can happen for families who come to the attention of the child welfare system when family treatment is provided.
##
Established in 1920, the Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CWLA strives to advance sound public policy on behalf of the three million abused and neglected children served by its nearly 1,100 public and private member agencies.
For additional information or to interview Elizabeth Meitner, please contact the CWLA Press Office at 202/942-0244 or email pressoffice@cwla.org.
 Back to Top  Printer-friendly Page  Contact Us
|
|
