Children of mothers with histories of substance abuse, mental illness, and trauma

• Published in: Journal of community psychology Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 445 - 459
• Main Authors: VanDeMark, Nancy R., Russell, Lisa A., O'Keefe, Maura, Finkelstein, Norma, Noether, Chanson D., Gampel, Joanne C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2005; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: At Risk Persons; Behavior disorders; Behavior Problems; Child Welfare; Children; Children & youth; Domestic violence; Drug abuse; Early Intervention; Family Violence; Mental Disorders; Mental health care; Mothers; Parents & parenting; Prevention; Skill Development; Social Services; Substance Abuse; Therapy; Trauma; Victims; Welfare Services
• ISSN: 0090-4392; 1520-6629
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.20062

Children exposed to parental substance abuse, mental illness, and violence face profound challenges, including increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems, substance abuse, and victimization. In this article, we describe the characteristics of a sample of children of women entering treatment. These children had been exposed to domestic violence, frequent child welfare involvement, and residential instability. Parental entry into treatment affords treatment providers an opportunity to intervene early with these children, enabling them to offer supportive and preventive services and to help children build skills to avoid problems later. Treatment providers are encouraged to offer assessment and services to children of parents entering treatment, capitalizing on the opportunity to intervene early with a group of children who are at risk for problems with significant individual and social consequences. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 445–459, 2005.