Foster Parents’ Need for Greater Information Sharing When Caring for Children With Prenatal Substance Exposure Within Child Welfare

This article shares results from a qualitative study conducted through our ongoing work with ICF to understand current practices in child welfare agencies and to establish resources to improve agencies’ identification, care, and treatment of children affected by prenatal substance exposure.

Forty-four caregivers of a child with known prenatal substance exposure or related special needs participated in study focus groups or interviews. Participants highlighted the need for more comprehensive information sharing from child welfare professionals about children’s histories and care needs. Agencies can use findings to strengthen training, information sharing, and caregiver support—potentially leading to improvements in child development outcomes and family preservation.

Access the article abstract using the link below.

Usher, K., Morehouse, E., Newburg-Rinn, S., Bertrand, J., & Golden Guzman, K. (2024). Foster parents’ need for greater information sharing when caring for children with prenatal substance exposure within child welfare. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2024.2412672