Reducing Stigma in Communications Related to Parents/Caregivers of System Involved Youth who use Opioids

Megan Lipsett

Training Description

Parental substance use has been identified as one of the conditions for removal for approximately 39% of children entering out-of-home foster care (SAMSHA, 2019) - and foster youth have disproportionately high levels of variables that are known to intensify their own substance use (i.e. experiences with trauma and maltreatment, mental illness, and exposure to parental alcohol and drug use) (Braciszewski & Stout, 2012). Despite established efficacy of evidence-based substance misuse prevention and harm reduction programs, only 18% of those who struggle with a Substance Use Disorder receive treatment - in part due to concerns about social and structural stigma. Substance-related stigma directly impacts psychological wellbeing and indirectly impacts treatment outcomes and overall health disparities (Hatzenbuehler, Phelan, & Link, 2013), and foster youth are disproportionately negatively affected. This training will explore practical approaches to reducing stigma towards parents of foster youth who use opioids and their children,…