Variation by race and ethnicity in the prevalence and trends of parental opioid misuse in child welfare: findings from the Regional Partnership Grant-1

ABSTRACT

Given the harmful effects of parental opioid use on child well-being, this study explored the prevalence and trends of opioid misuse among 11,457 child welfare-involved parents participating in substance use disorder treatment through the Regional Partnership Grant-1 (2007–2012). Prevalence and trends of opioid misuse were examined for the sample overall and by race and ethnicity. Most of the parents were White (69%) and 31% were parents of color (12.4% African Americans, 8.5% Hispanic, 6.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 4.1% multiracial/other). Almost one-quarter of the sample (21.9%) reported opioid misuse. Although the percentage of all parents participating in treatment due to opioid misuse increased annually by 11% between 2007 and 2012, trends varied significantly by parental race/ethnicity. For example, White and American Indian/Alaskan Native parents showed a significant annual increase in the likelihood of opioid misuse (12% and 43%, respectively); no significant annual increases were found among other parents of color. Findings from this study highlight the need for ongoing programmatic efforts and research to capture prevalence and trends of parental opioid misuse in the child welfare system, especially as it relates to parental race/ethnicity. Implications for targeted substance use disorder and opioid misuse treatment needs are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Child welfare
• substance use
• parental opioid misuse
• race and ethnicity

Acknowledgments

No other persons have made substantial contributions to this article. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or nonprofit sectors. Given the type of study (secondary data analysis), informed consent was not required. This study was approved exempt by the institutional review board at the University of Denver; all procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All authors have reviewed and approved the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy S. He

Dr. Amy S. He is an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver. She has over 15 years of clinical experience and has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Her scholarship incorporates quantitative and mixed methodology, secondary national survey data, program evaluation, and the collection of primary data at the county, state, and national level. Dr. He’s current research focuses on the addressing large system challenges facing child welfare. This includes organizational and capacity building (e.g. interagency collaboration, workforce development and burnout), education and professional development of child welfare workers, and prevention and intervention services related to parental substance use disorder. She currently serves as the Evaluation PI for the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI 3).

Jon D. Phillips

Dr. Jon D. Phillips is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. He is a licensed social worker with extensive practice experience working with children, adolescents, and families involved with the child welfare system. He has worked on numerous quantitative and qualitative research projects focused on improving the well-being of, and service delivery to, child welfare-involved families. His main area of interest is increasing the intensity and quality of interprofessional collaboration in the child welfare system as a means of improving child and family well-being.

Jennifer A. Sedivy

Jennifer A. Sedivy, MSW, has over 10 years of research and program evaluation experience. She has engaged in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods methodologies. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and an MSW from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Social Work at the University of Denver, where her research interests focus on evidence-based practice, implementation science, and child welfare organizations. Through this work, Jennifer aims to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system.