Improving System Linkages

Collaborative Practice Tools
The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare helps child welfare agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, and dependency courts to establish cross-system collaboration that sets the stage for positive outcomes. To carry out this work, NCSACW has developed a set of policy tools that support the framework.

Five National Reports on the Substance Abuse-Child Welfare Linkage
Brief summaries and links to national reports on the intersection of substance abuse and child welfare.

Elements of System Linkages
For cross-system collaboration to be effective and sustainable, each system – child welfare, substance abuse treatment, and the courts must be engaged in each of these ten areas. Resources and publications have been compiled and developed in each of these areas:

• Underlying Values and Principles of Collaborative Relationships
• Daily Practice: Client Screening, Assessment, Engagement & Retention
• Daily Practice: Services to Children
• Working With the Community and Supporting Families
• Budgeting and Program Sustainability
• Information Sharing and Data Systems
• Training and Staff Development
• Working with Related Agencies
• Joint Accountability and Shared Outcomes