Data is obtained from the NC Department of Health and Human Services Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan Data Dashboard. All data ranges from August to July of each year and refers to all cases where children were placed in foster care due to parental misuse of substances.  

North Carolina law does not criminalize pregnant women identified as misusing substances. Therefore, those women are not reported to the local Department of Social Services (DSS) for child abuse and neglect. However, if an infant has tested positive for drugs and/or alcohol, then a referral to Child Protective Services (CPS) is made to conduct an assessment of the situation. New mothers who CPS determines to buy alcohol or drugs without providing basic necessities or their substance misuse impairs their ability to care for the child and do not have an alternative child care arrangement will have interventions on behalf of the child or children. This is when the child or children will be placed into the foster care system due to the parental misuse of substances. Research has shown that children whose parents have substance use disorder have a greater risk of being affected by trauma due to parental neglect, prenatal substance exposure, chaotic environments, and/or removal by child welfare professionals. Parents may begin working on a case plan for reunification, which could include positive parenting classes, peer support programs, in-patient or outpatient rehabilitation including medicine-assisted treatment, counseling, regular drug screens, and connecting parents with other community resources. The goal will be to reduce any other adverse childhood experiences for these children.  

Lipari, R.N. & Van Horn, S.L. (2017). Children living with parents who have a substance use disorder. The CBHSQ Report. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD

• Richmond County Department of Social Services DEFT | Richmond County, NC - Official Website (richmondnc.com)

The Richmond County Drug Endangered Family Taskforce (DEFT) was formed to address the opioid crisis in our local neighborhoods. Community stakeholders, county government, and local agencies have joined forces to provide treatment resources and community education. We are committed to bringing awareness and prevention to Richmond County and its residents by working with local providers to reduce the supply of prescription opioids, increase community awareness and prevention, supply naloxone to family, friends, and other interested parties who may work, live or know those who may use opioids.  

• Richmond County Health Department Health Department | Richmond County, NC - Official Website (richmondnc.com)

The mission of the Richmond County Health Department is to help prevent disease, promote health, and protect the environment for all citizens of Richmond County, and to continually assess and respond to the health needs of the community.

• Richmond County Peer Support Program Recovery Solutions | Richmond County, NC - Official Website (richmondnc.com)

The Richmond County DSS Peer Support Program is the boots on the ground, out in our community to bring awareness of addiction.  We give out Harm Reduction Kits, which contain Narcan (used to reverse an opioid overdose), information on "the signs of an overdose," and resources on where substance-affected individuals can go to find help and support. Our Peer Support Specialists are in recovery themselves and work with others who are still struggling. They are living proof that people DO recover, which goes a long way in reducing the stigma surrounding drug addiction.

• Richmond County Partnership for Children Richmond County Partnership for Children | Smart Start (smartstartrichmond.org) 

Working with parents and caretakers of young children, Richmond County Partnership for Children (RCPC) helps support families. Through our Circle of Parents group, parents are provided a healthy, non-judgmental outlet to discuss the struggles of parenting. We share information with our parents about the effects their choices have on children. RCPC continually provides resources and referrals to other community agencies to support our families in all areas needed.

• Access and use of the NC Early Childhood Action Plan
• Avert future opioid addiction by supporting youth and families
• Encourage use of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs 
• Increase and improve access to drug treatment programs
• Increase opportunities for trauma-informed parenting support
• Increase access to behavioral health treatment
• Administer and assess Foster Kids with the Treatment Outcome Package (TOP)
• Increase access to evidence-based parenting programs and home visiting programs

Children need safe and stable homes with nurturing adults for healthy growth and development.  Richmond County Department of Social Services (DSS) Child Protective Services (CPS) is committed to the children in foster care to have a home environment that is safe and nurturing, either with the child's birth family or an adoptive family.  CPS develops careful and comprehensive reunification plans for parents to help minimize any more adverse childhood experiences (ACE).  The more ACEs a child experiences will increase their risks for health-related challenges in adulthood.  Those challenges are higher risks for heart disease, stroke, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the more ACEs experienced will lead to a much higher rate of depression and high-risk behaviors such as smoking, heavy drinking, and drug use.  The impact of ACEs is profound on a child's learning, language, behavior, physical and mental health. Therefore, foster kids must build strong relationships with caregivers, be provided a safe, stable home, and have limited exposure to trauma.  

Currently, there is no state data source for children's socioemotional health and resilience.  However, the RC DSS collaborates with Outcome Referrals (http://www.outcomereferrals.com/) which administers the Treatment Outcome Package (TOP) survey to our foster children.  TOP is a web-based assessment tool that provides information about children's social and emotional well-being in our foster care.  TOP is a revolutionary tool that helps child welfare teams and providers focus on what works and tracks a set of emotional and behavioral indicators from a child’s experience with depression, nightmares, and eating disorders to emotional strengths and assets.   Information regarding that child is also gathered from the child's family and guardians, caseworkers, and providers to create an accurate initial assessment.  Foster kids complete the TOP questionnaire before, during, and after treatment. Outcome Referrals produces a comprehensive report about well-being and treatment needs based on responses.  TOP data about children’s progress over time can be beneficial for child welfare agencies and providers to identify areas of excellence to help maintain and improve services.