REINTEGRATION STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY SUBSTANCE ...

147 Pages·2016·0.96 MB·English

by  Cheryl Laws

REINTEGRATION STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
BY SUBSTANCE ABUSERS IN WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES

A Thesis
by
CHERYL WILSON LAWS

Submitted to the Graduate School
at Appalachian State University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTERS OF ARTS

May 2016
Department of Appalachian Studies
REINTEGRATION STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
BY SUBSTANCE ABUSERS IN WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES

A Thesis
by
CHERYL WILSON LAWS
May 2016

APPROVED BY:

_________________________________________________
Dr. William Schumann
Chairperson, Thesis Committee

_________________________________________________
Dr. Sarah Beth Hopton
Member, Thesis Committee

__________________________________________________
Dr. Michael Potter
Member, Thesis Committee

__________________________________________________
Dr. William Schumann
Chairperson, Department of Appalachian Studies

__________________________________________________
Max C. Poole, Ph.D.
Dean, Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies
Copyright by Cheryl Wilson Laws 2016
All Rights Reserved
Abstract
REINTEGRATION STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY
SUBSTANCE ABUSERS IN WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES
Cheryl Wilson Laws
R.B.A., West Virginia State University
M.A., Appalachian State University

Chairperson: Dr. William Schumann

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of current intervention strategies employed by
organizations that provide socially necessary services (SNS) to Kanawha County, West Virginia
parents whose drug addictions pose an impending danger to the continued safety of their children
and led to substantiated allegations of child abuse and neglect. These organizations, known as
administrative service organizations (ASO), are referred to these maltreating parents by Child
Protective Services (CPS) to control or mitigate impending dangers to the safety of
abused/neglected children posed by maltreating parents with drug addictions. The current modus
operandi of the state of West Virginia is to facilitate an intervention, provide treatment and
reunify the family. However, there is an omitted and crucial piece to the sustainability of the
family unit once they are released from the supervision of the state, which is in the form of a
community reintegration strategy that will support the family’s success as a functioning social
unit upon release from the child welfare system. This thesis intends to show that without this
integral piece of the circle, the cycle of drug abuse cannot be broken therefore fails at the
sustainability of the sobriety of the maltreating parent as well as the family as a functioning unit.
iv
Dedication
This work is dedicated to my son, Nicholas Gregory Laws, my daughter, Sydney Juliann
Atkins and to my granddaughters, Jamesyn Audra and Emeri Rayne Laws. You are the reason I
do all that I do- to inspire you not only with my words, but by the example of the richness of my
life. May you know that it is never too late to follow your passion. Dream big, work hard and
make beautiful memories.
I also dedicate this work to every parent who has ever lost custody of their child, for the
children who miss them and to Stacy Dawn Parsons and other fallen angels this epidemic has
taken away long before they had the opportunity to recreate themselves and this world.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
-Dr. Seuss

v
Acknowledgements
I would first like to thank Appalachian State University and the Center for Appalachian
Studies for an incredible educational experience. To my Thesis Director, Dr. William Schumann
for his respect of my vision and his commitment to prepare and guide my research towards my
goal. I would also like to thank my Thesis Committee, Dr. Sarah Beth Hopton and Dr. Mike
Potter for their time and contributions to ensure my research was scholarly and professionally
written.
I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the support of several of my family
members. The trust, patience and devotion of my daughter, Sydney Atkins, her willingness to
take this adventure with me to Boone, North Carolina and belief in my vision has given me the
strength to complete my degree and this research. I am also grateful for the love and support of
my mother through both my undergraduate and Masters Degree and the time my sister, Denys
Snodgrass, devoted to editing this thesis. A special thank you to Cat Talley from the
Appalachian State University Writing Center for teaching me writing skills that will stay with me
throughout my career and for her encouragement.
I would also like to acknowledge my long-time friend and therapist, J.R. Keener, for his
guidance in teaching me to believe in myself, to trust my instincts and pursue only and all things
that enhance my life. Lastly, I would like to thank my friend, colleague and business partner, Dr.
Sundjata ibn-Hyman for helping me create the story I have tried to tell within this thesis and for
sharing my vision to keep children throughout West Virginia safe while an opportunity is
provided for substance abusers to reset and recreate a new life for themselves and their families.

vi
Table of Contents
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….…….iv
Dedication……….………………………………………………………………………….…….v
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………………..vi
List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………….x
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Socioeconomics of Drug Addiction…………………………..1
History of Drug Use……………………………………...………………………………1
Susceptibility to Substance Abuse……………………………………...……………….3
Substance Abuse and the Demise of the Family Unit……………………………….…8
Substance Abuse and the Maltreatment of Children…………………………...........10
Child Welfare System…………………………………………..………………………13
Treatment Obstacles…………………………………………………..………………..14
Stress, Relapse and Re-Offending Maltreatment………………………………….…16
Post-Treatment Hardships…………………………………………………………..…17
Chapter Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….19
Chapter 2: Policy Context of West Virginia…………………………………………………..20
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Substance Abuse in West Virginia.................................................................................21
Child Protective Services Policy for Abuse and Neglect Referrals………………….24
Child Protective Services Procedure for Abuse and Neglect Referrals……………..25
Provision of Services for In-Home Safety Plans……………………………...……….32
Adjudication Process for Out-of-Home Safety Plans………………………..……….34
Three Key Gaps within the Current System………………………………….………39
Chapter Conclusion………………………………………………………………….....45
Chapter 3: Critical Engagement- Literature Reviews and Case Studies…………………...46
Community-Level Change…………………………………………………….……….46
Literature Review………………………………………………………………………48
Case Studies……………………………………………………………………………..53
Chapter Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….59
Chapter 4: Methods of Research………………………………………………………………61
Research Introduction………………………………………………………………….61
Research Process………………………………………………………………………..61
Data Samples..…………………………………………………………………………..64
Survey Results…………………………………………………………………………..65
Interview Results…..……………………………………………………………………67
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Analysis of Secondary Research……………………………………………………….68
Research Conclusion……………………………………………………………………76
Chapter 5: Treatment, Prevention and Reintegration……………………………………….78
Treatment………………………………………………………………...……………..78
Prevention………………………………………………………………………...……..82
Reintegration……………………………………………………………………..……..85
Healthy Kids and Families Coalition………………………………………….………87
Pollen8, Inc…………………………………………………………….………………..88
Chapter Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….94
Chapter 6: Thesis Conclusion………………………………………………………………….95
Thesis Overview……………………………………………………………….………..96
Further Research……………………………………………………………………….97
Long-Term Objectives…………………………………………………………....…….98
Challenges and Obstacles………………………………………………......................100
Final Thoughts…...…………………………………………………………………....101
Indexes………………………………………………………………………………....106
References………………………………………………………………………..…….114
Vita……………………………………………………………………………………..137
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List of Figures

Figure 1- Child Protective Services (CPS) Procedure for Abuse and Neglect Referrals…..29
Figure 2- Child Protective Services (CPS) Adjudication Process for Out-of-Home
Placement……………………………………………………………………………………......38
Figure 3- Survey Question 3…………………………………………………………………....66
x