At Douglas County CASA, we often meet children and families at some of the most difficult moments of their lives. While every family’s story is unique, one factor appears again and again in child welfare cases—substance misuse.
Substance abuse prevention is not separate from child abuse prevention. It is deeply connected. When we talk about protecting children, strengthening families, and building safer communities, we must also talk about preventing substance misuse and expanding access to treatment, recovery supports, and community-based prevention partnerships.
The Connection Between Substance Use and Child Welfare
National data consistently show a strong link between parental substance misuse and child welfare system involvement. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, parental alcohol or drug use is a significant contributing factor in a large percentage of child welfare cases nationwide. In many states, substance use disorders are involved in one-third to one-half of cases where children are removed from their homes.
Substance misuse can impair judgment, increase instability, contribute to neglect, and heighten the risk of unsafe environments. It often co-occurs with other stressors—poverty, untreated mental health conditions, domestic violence, and housing instability—compounding risk for children.
In Kansas, the Kansas Department for Children and Families has reported that substance use remains one of the leading contributing factors in cases where children enter foster care. While not every case involves substance misuse, its presence is significant enough that prevention and treatment must be central to any strategy focused on child well-being.
Behind every statistic is a child who may experience disrupted attachments, school changes, uncertainty, and trauma.
The Local Impact in Douglas County
Here in Douglas County, Kansas, we see the effects firsthand. Many children served by Douglas County CASA have experienced instability connected to parental substance use. For some, it means removal from home. For others, it means prolonged court involvement while parents work toward recovery.
Substance misuse does not define a parent’s love for their child—but it can affect their ability to provide safe and consistent care. Recovery is possible. Families can heal. But prevention and early intervention matter tremendously.
When communities invest in prevention, fewer children experience the trauma of entering foster care.
Prevention Is About More Than Saying “No”
Substance abuse prevention is often misunderstood as simply discouraging drug or alcohol use. In reality, effective prevention is much broader and more proactive. It includes:
- Strengthening families and social supports
- Increasing access to mental health care
- Reducing stigma around treatment and recovery
- Expanding youth prevention and education
- Addressing root causes such as trauma and economic stress
Research consistently shows that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including exposure to substance misuse in the home, can increase the likelihood of long-term health and behavioral challenges. Preventing substance misuse in families is not only about today—it’s about interrupting generational cycles of trauma.
What Prevention Means for CASA
For CASA, substance abuse prevention operates on two levels.
1. Preventing Further Harm to Children in Care
When children enter the child welfare system due in part to substance misuse, our role is to help ensure they are protected from further trauma. CASA volunteers:
- Monitor safety and services
- Advocate for trauma-informed care
- Support timely access to treatment for parents
- Promote stable placements and permanency
Data from the Kansas CASA Association show that children with CASA volunteers experience high levels of stability and safety, including very low rates of re-abuse while under court protection. That stability can be especially critical for children whose families are navigating recovery.
2. Advocating for Community-Based Resources
Prevention also means supporting families before substance misuse leads to child removal. CASA believes in—and supports—community collaboration that builds capacity for prevention and recovery.
Community Action: Get Involved with Prevention Coalition Work
Douglas County is fortunate to be home to effective prevention partnership efforts supported by local and regional organizations. One such effort is the Substance Use Prevention Alliance (SUPA), coordinated by DCCCA, Inc.
SUPA brings together schools, health providers, law enforcement, parents, youth, and community leaders to:
- Share data on trends in substance use
- Educate the community about risk and protective factors
- Promote evidence-based prevention practices
- Support youth leadership and resilience
You can get involved:
Whether you serve on community coalitions, help share prevention messaging, or volunteer your time at SUPA events, your voice strengthens our collective ability to prevent substance misuse before it becomes a crisis. Learn more about SUPA and upcoming prevention trainings.
Saving Lives Through Naloxone Access
Another critical prevention strategy is supporting community access to naloxone—a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
DCCCA also offers naloxone education and distribution programs, empowering individuals and families with the tools and training needed to respond in emergencies. Naloxone training increases safety and gives communities a practical resource to prevent death from accidental overdose.
Take action:
Participate in naloxone training or help spread awareness about its availability in Douglas County.
Recovery Is Possible
It is important to say clearly: substance use disorder is a treatable health condition. Many parents involved in the child welfare system work incredibly hard to pursue recovery and rebuild trust. We have seen families reunified, stability restored, and hope renewed.
But recovery is rarely a straight line. It requires community support, accountability, access to care, and compassion, balanced with child safety.
Children benefit when systems respond not only with oversight, but with meaningful resources.
How Our Community Can Respond
Substance abuse prevention is a shared responsibility. Here are ways our community can help:
- Participate in prevention coalition work like SUPA
- Attend substance use prevention trainings offered locally
- Become trained in naloxone use and support broader access
- Support policies that expand access to treatment and mental health care
- Reduce stigma around recovery
- Strengthen family preservation services
- Consider volunteering with CASA to advocate for children impacted by substance misuse
When we approach substance abuse as both a public health issue and a child welfare issue—with education, compassion, and collective action—we create space for healing while keeping children safe.
Prevention Is an Investment in the Future
At Douglas County CASA, our work centers on children. But we cannot separate child safety from family health. Substance abuse prevention is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce trauma, decrease foster care entries, and create more stable futures.
Prevention is not abstract. It is practical. It is compassionate. It is effective.
When we invest in prevention—early support, robust community partnerships, accessible treatment, and supportive recovery services—we move from responding to crises to strengthening families before they break.
That is prevention. And that is work worth doing.
Thank you for standing with the children and families of Douglas County—not just in moments of need, but in building lasting prevention and wellness for all.
