Meth and Child Protective Service

Methamphetamine manufacture, use, and addiction and the effect on children and families, are serious problems confronting child welfare agencies across the nation. Similar to the crack epidemic of the 1980’s, the "meth problem" increases the risk of child maltreatment, impacts family functioning, and seriously threatens the safety and well-being of children.

The ongoing CPS responsibility when working with meth affected families is to control for safety, address the effects of child maltreatment and methamphetamine use on children, and to implement change strategies that will help to increase protective factors and reduce risk factors for continued maltreatment. Assessments must address the unique needs of these families and then the CPS worker must select interventions that best match those needs in order to increase child safety and increase child and family well-being. Whenever possible, interventions should be selected based on the best available evidence of their effectiveness.