Federal and State Policy Tools and Legislation

Developing new policies to support improved practice requires all three systems to work in a collaborative method, which places new responsibilities upon each system’s professionals. In a collaborative setting, judges, attorneys, child welfare professionals, treatment providers and additional stakeholders must move beyond their traditional roles, begin to look at the system as a whole, and focus on the needs of children and families in a holistic way. By rising above daily practice issues and making the best interests of abused and neglected children the primary level of focus, all three partners can plan for effective systemic change. This change can include development of treatment and support service options that best meet the needs of dependent children and their families within their communities.

This policy focus can guide planning for change in court and agency practice which is centered on children and families taking into consideration the importance of a child’s needs, including a child’s sense of time, developmental needs, sense of well-being, and other critical developmental issues. A holistic approach to assessing and revising policy can ensure that appropriate and immediately accessible substance abuse services will be available to parents and those mental health needs of children and parents will be met.

State Policy Tools

Interagency Agreements & Memoranda of Understanding

• Virginia Memorandum of Understanding (PDF 38 KB)
• Arkansas Memorandum of Understanding (PDF 14 KB)
• Massachusetts Memorandum of Understanding (PDF 63 KB)
• Texas Partnership for Family Recovery, Memorandum of Understanding (PDF 29 KB)
• Florida State Level Policy Working Agreement (PDF 1,010 KB)
• Florida System of Care Language for Substance Abuse and Mental Health and Community-Based Contracts (PDF 14 KB)

Shared Principles Statements

• Massachusetts Statement of Shared Values (PDF 83 KB)
• Colorado Overarching Statements (PDF 84 KB)
• Synthesis of Cross System Values and Principles: A National Perspective (PDF 70 KB)

Local Site Implementation

• Minnesota Overview of Catch the Vision Tool Kit of Recommended Practices for Working with Families (PDF 430 KB)

Executive Orders

• Arizona Executive Order 2008-01; Enhanced Availability of Substance Abuse Treatment Services for Families Involved with Child Protective Services (PDF)
  Executive order given by the Governor acknowledging 80% of CPS cases involve SUDs, stating that CPS clients be given priority substance abuse prevention and treatment.

Federal and State Legislation

Professionals who work with families with substance use disorder should develop a good understanding of Federal legislation and the respective State laws that have been implemented to carry out the Federal legislation.

Federal Legislation

• Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption
• Timeline of Major Federal Legislation Concerned with Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption

State Legislation and Regulation

• Michigan: Binsfield Legislation - Legislation Establishing Priority for Admission (PDF 17 KB)
• 2514 Strategic Plan Legislation
  California legislation from 2003 would have created a strategic planning process between child welfare and treatment agencies at the state level.
• Substance Abuse Legislation Database
  National Conference of State Legislatures
  A regularly updated database tracking State legislative action on substance abuse, including bill numbers, sponsors, bill summaries and content, and links to bills enacted by the legislatures.
  
• An Overview of the Child and Family Services Reviews
  Webinar presented by the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare and the National Association of State Alcohol/Drug Abuse Directors. The webinar was developed to inform State Substance Abuse Directors about the CFSR process and suggest ways in which State Substance Abuse Directors can become involved in the CFSR process through collaboration with Child Welfare Administrators in their state.