Research & Training

CFS Research and Training Activities by Topic

Substance Abuse

Parent Partners for Families of Miami-Dade County

This project examines efforts to establish an integrated continuum of care for families with parental substance misuse/use disorders and children in substitute care. A key component of this project includes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test a peer specialist intervention focused on these child safety outcomes: reducing child length of stay in out of home care, reducing the number of child placements once in care, and reducing re-entry into the system, as well as an implementation sub-study to document project implementation and assess factors associated with implementation of the peer support model (“Parent Partners”). In addition, a focus is on these child/family well-being outcomes: increasing parental engagement into substance treatment, increasing parental protective capacities, and increasing child engagement into needed behavioral health services.

Contact: Linda Callejas, PhD
Funder: Citrus Health Network, Inc/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Regional Partnership Grants to Increase the Well-Being of, and to Improve the Permanency Outcomes for, Children Affected by Substance Abuse (PFPC)

PFPC is aimed at increasing parents’ recovery from substance abuse disorders, improving outcomes for children, and enhancing family functioning and stability. Family Support Services of North Florida (FSSNF) expanded their voluntary, non-judicial program to provide a comprehensive array of services and supports to meet the needs of families impacted by substance misuse. Eligible families were randomly assigned to either the control group (services as usual) or the intervention group (enhanced services). The expanded service array for the intervention group adds peer support and health care coordination  to supplement existing services and supports to improve outcomes for children 0-5 years of age and their families. USF is conducting the comprehensive assessment on the performance and outcomes of PFPC. The evaluation includes a process evaluation, partnership evaluation, and outcomes analysis designed to 1) assess the implementation of the program, 2) understand the development of the collaborative group brought together to serve and support the target population, and 3) examine the impact of the program on child and family outcomes.

Contact: Monica Landers, PhD
Funder: Family Support Services of North Florida/Administration for Children and Families