{"id":32063,"date":"2023-10-19T16:17:48","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T16:17:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caseyfamilyv2.wpengine.com\/prenatal-substance-exposure-interventions\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T16:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:10:49","slug":"intervenciones-para-la-exposicion-prenatal-a-sustancias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casey.org\/es\/prenatal-substance-exposure-interventions\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfCu\u00e1les son algunas intervenciones apropiadas para el desarrollo de beb\u00e9s y ni\u00f1os afectados por exposici\u00f3n prenatal a sustancias?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Summary<\/h3>\n

Focusing on three key developmental stages, this brief outlines strategies to support families and children affected by prenatal substance exposure.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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This brief was developed in partnership with\u00a0Children and Family Futures<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Prenatal substance exposure can have physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional consequences across the child development continuum \u2014 from infancy through adolescence to young adulthood. Effects vary depending on a variety of factors, including exposure to multiple substances, the timing of exposure, and the type of substance to which the fetus was exposed.1<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

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Child protection agencies report that parental substance use was a factor for out-of-home placement for more than a one-third (35%) of children entering foster care. Further, studies find that up to 90% of child welfare cases involve families affected by substance use disorders<\/a>.2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

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A 2018 research study<\/a> found increases in drug-related hospitalizations and overdose deaths positively align with an increase across the child welfare caseload, noting that a 10% increase in drug overdose deaths in a county corresponded to a 4.4% increase in children entering out-of-home care.3<\/sup><\/a> Of particular concern, the number of infants entering foster care increased 25% from 2011 through 2018.4<\/sup><\/a> While the number of children entering foster care increased for other age groups in the same time period, the increase of infants entering care was almost 13 times<\/em> as much the increase in placements for other age groups. The large increase of infants entering care is largely attributed to parental substance use disorders.<\/p>\n

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While a parent\u2019s drug or alcohol use may be cited as a factor for children entering foster care, it is important to remember that substance use disorder is a disease of the brain that can be effectively treated and managed<\/a>. It is most<\/em> important to understand that parental substance use alone never should be the primary determination behind a child removal decision, and neither should the presence of prenatal substance exposure in an infant<\/strong>. Instead, decisions on family separation must be based on an assessment of how substance use disorder within a family is affecting child safety<\/strong>. Communities can implement several strategies, including implementing Plans of Safe Care<\/a>, to ensure that infants affected by prenatal substance exposure can remain safe with their families. These strategies provide the parents or caregivers affected by substance use disorder the services they need to become healthy while simultaneously providing care to the infants to mitigate the effects from the exposure. This brief highlights evidence-based practice and policy strategies to prevent or mitigate the effects of prenatal substance exposure and support families across three developmental stages: infancy and early childhood, primary school age, and adolescence and young adulthood. For more information on interventions, see: What are some <\/em>evidence-based interventions to prevent and mitigate the effects of prenatal substance exposure?<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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A collaborative approach to individualized treatment<\/h3>\n

It is critical for child protection agencies to partner with substance use treatment providers and other systems to assess child safety and identify and engage families in services \u2014 including those focused on prevention. Collaboratives can implement initiatives to screen for substance use\u00a0during pregnancy<\/em>\u00a0and connect families to assessment and treatment services (as needed) to ensure that families are engaged in supportive services as early as possible to prevent further involvement with the child welfare system. Implementation of prenatal Plans of Safe Care and other strategies based on the\u00a0Five Points of Family Intervention<\/a>\u00a0can help support this approach.<\/p>\n

Substance use disorder treatment must be tailored to individual cultural beliefs and practices, gender-specific needs, and preferred language.\u00a0Treatment must also respect<\/a>\u00a0racial and ethnic identity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, age group, geographic location type, and other shared affiliations. Treatment outcomes can hinge on structural barriers, such as poverty, inequitable allocation of resources, racism, bias, and discrimination. Treatment professionals must acknowledge how these barriers disproportionately affect different groups and communities and promote the delivery of equitable, affordable, accessible, integrated, and coordinated services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Infancy and early childhood<\/h2>\n \n \n \n

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Infants with prenatal substance exposure must be screened for developmental delays and engaged in services to mitigate the potential effects of exposure. Services include early intervention and therapeutic support to promote parent-child bonding and attachment. Screening at well-baby and well-child check-ups, or at other points of engagement such as early childhood programs, help ensure identification of infants and young children who would benefit from these early intervention services.<\/p>\n

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Screening and referral to early intervention services<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends<\/a> all infants with substance exposure receive a referral to early intervention services and developmental screenings. There are two primary ways of accessing services:<\/p>\n