10 Steps for Managing Drug Parents

The main emphasis of this guide is to make explicit the nature of the connection between drug use and the reason for the intervention. While alcohol or other drug use may indicate a risk of harm to the child or the parent, this should not be presumed. While a useful strategy may include reducing or stopping drug use, the primary focus should be on reducing the negative impact of drug use on the family system.

The priorities of intervention where children may be at risk are to:

	enhance the protection and care for the children of drug using parents (eg developmental support & safety);
	help to improve the quality of life for the parent(s) with a particular emphasis on improving parenting skills, reducing drug-related problems and developing other psycho-social, health enhancing behaviours and skills.

While engaged in assessment and service provision staff need to be aware of their statutory responsibility. In situations where the substance user is a carer or a parent, then the safety of care of the child/ren must be paramount.

A further resource, Risk Assessment Checklist for Parental Drug Use, outlines key domain and indicators, where drug use may affect parenting.

Contents

Parent Management 10 Steps

Step 1: Establish a Relationship
Step 2: Connection between alcohol & other drug use & parenting
Step 3: Signs of safety
Step 4: Confirmatory reports
Step 5: If child protection issue, express bottom-line & then negotiate change
Step 6: External counselling or support required for any other family members?
Step 7: Plan a short-term achievable goal
Step 8: Identify any external, environmental factors requiring advocacy
Step 9: Monitor progress
Step 10: Close case

Parent Management 10 Steps

Step 1: Establish a Relationship

	Explain the nature and purpose of visit/intervention
	Clear the air through reflective listening of client's concerns
	Join with parent in mutual desire to effect positive parenting and child support
	Explain confidentiality issues
	Outline procedures as necessary including time for this visit/intervention
	Identify any other social-welfare agency engagement
	Invite questions and answer honestly

Step 2: Assess the relationship between alcohol and other drug using behaviour, child protection and other lifestyle domains (See 4 L's).

	Identify the functional/protective factors of drug use (eg. stimulant use helps with housework, depressant use to calm down, etc.)
	Identify harmful factors (eg. poor supervision, driving under influence with child, gets angry at child when hanging out, no money for day-care, alcohol induced domestic violence, etc.)
	Assess how aware parents/carers are of the links between their drug use and the risks to their child/ren
	Explore with client positive and negative effects of drug use on his/her own life domains
	Tracking the ups, downs and in-betweens of drug use over a typical day may assist

See also: Risk Assessment Checklist for Parental Drug Use

Step 3: Explore current and past strategies used by parent to protect child from undesirable drug effects (signs of safety).

	Ask about how parent manages the ups, downs and in-betweens of drug use in reference to parenting and self-care (eg use of child care while scoring, disposal of drug use equipment in a safe manner, etc).
	If in home, look for evidence of child care (eg. child's paintings, fridge full, immunisation up-to-date, etc.)

Step 4: Seek confirmatory reports from other sources if required.

	Professionals such as teacher, developmental psychologist, paediatrician or other agency workers involved in the case (eg drug worker)
	Other family, neighbours, friends.

Step 5: If child protection issue, express non-negotiable bottom-line and then negotiate change requirements in terms of the effect of drug use on parenting and self-care behaviours.

	Maintain focus on impact on child care, and self-care.
	Include a range of possible domains for change (ie. 4 L's)
	Alcohol and other drug use domain to be couched in managing amount used, patterns of use and the effects of use. Change options might include abstinence or controlled use where appropriate
	Caution if urine testing procedures used as may push client into more hazardous drug use behaviours to avoid detection. Where indicated, it is preferable for urine test to be identified by client as one method for maintaining and demonstrating positive change
	Determine support structures and enhance
	Negotiated changes to be specific and measurable and contracted where appropriate. It is important that the client plays an active role in determining 'success' or the goals for change (within statutory responsibilities)
	Determine whether or not there is a role for a statutory welfare agency in relation to any child protection matters. Inform the parent of your obligations in relation to these matters
	Institute case management procedures where required.

Step 6: External counselling or support required for any other family members?

	Would any children involved benefit from external professional or other support (eg day care, support at school, counselling for the child?)
	If only one parent is using substances, does his/her partner require external or professional support (eg domestic violence intervention, self-help groups, counselling)?
	Do other family members or significant others require external or professional support?

Step 7: Plan a short-term achievable goal

	Negotiate Specific, Meaningful, Assessable, Realistic, Time-bounded (S.M.A.R.T.) short-term, goal(s)
	Identify possible obstacles to achieving goal(s)
	Identify supports to help achieve goal(s)
	Identify positive consequences if goal achieved
	Have contingency plan if goal not achieved

Step 8: Identify any external, environmental factors which may require worker advocacy or interventions (eg. access to drug agency, supported accommodation, respite care or shared case management arrangements)

	External strengths and weaknesses (pressures) identified
	Augment strengths and reduce/manage weaknesses

Step 9: Monitor progress

	Identify both positive changes and setbacks (review)
	Plan and re-negotiate goals as necessary
	Continue to assess and provide emotional and other supports to parents, children and other family members as necessary

Step 10: Close case

	Identify criteria and rationale for case closure in relation to: - the parent(s) health and well-being (including substance use) - the issues for the care and protection of the child/ren - the health and well-being of other family members (partner, grandparents) affected by substance use
	Check with appropriate supervisory staff, client and other engaged agencies before closing case