Children of substance abusing parents (COSAPs) are 2-4 times at higher risk than other children for becoming substance abusers as well as for experiencing associated behavioral, emotional, cognitive and physical problems. In order to address these vulnerabilities, SAMHSA/CSAP is testing the effectiveness of a coordinated service prevention intervention using a quasi-experimental design on two groups of children, 6-8 year and 9-14 year olds and their substance abusing parents in 14 community settings with differing racial, cultural and ethnic populations. The intervention core services include family case management, parenting education, child social competency and skills building, tutoring and parent substance abuse education and counseling. The effects of these interventions are measured at program exit and 6 months later. Intended child outcomes include reduced risk factors, increased protective factors, and delayed substance use. Within the 6-8 year old cohort, 702 families are enrolled in the treatment group for whom exit data have been collected on 386, and 601 are enrolled in the comparison group for whom exit data have been collected on 302. For the 9-14 cohort, 702 families are enrolled in the treatment group for whom exit data have been collected on 451, and 473 are enrolled in the comparison group for whom exit data have been collected on 296 At the conclusion of this session, participants will learn critical issues in substance use among COSAPs, whether or not the coordinated services improved child outcomes, and in which age and population groups the services have been most effective.
Learning Objectives: The learning objectives are 1) assessing the effectiveness of prevention interventions on high risk children 2) Assessing the feasibility of conducting cross site studies with different population groups 3) critically examining the usefulness of self report data 4) determining what age and population and service dosage levels are most effective in generating positive outcomes 5) determining what standard measurement instruments and questions are most sensitive to change as a result of the intervention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.