A7 - Findings of the SAFE-CORE Study:  Strategies for Serving Child Welfare Clients with Substance Use Disorders in Rural Communities

Rural communities have been at the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, and families living in rural areas have endured the full brunt of its impact. This presentation will present results of a study focused on the challenges rural communities face in delivering services to families with substance use disorders who are involved with the child welfare system—and the service models that show promise in addressing these challenges. Findings are based on site visits and key informant interviews conducted in diverse rural communities across the nation. Researchers will present national findings; local program officials will describe their service arrays and how they have been adapted for rural communities.

Presenters: Laura Radel, U.S. DHHS, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation, Washington, DC; and Elizabeth Weigensberg, Mathematica, Chicago, IL