Service Programs
The Maryland Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration (DHS/SSA) recognizes that a successful intervention must involve a collaborative approach that embraces the participation of various community service and health care providers, home visiting programs, substance use treatment providers, and State agencies to promote positive outcomes for substance exposed newborns, their parents, and family members impacted by substance use. Across the State, addressing parental substance use is a priority in the development of services. LDSSs are implementing proven and promising services to address parental substance use, ensure the safety of newborns, and make sure families stay together to promote well-being.
Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams
Maryland is implementing the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) Model in 13 counties. START is a child welfare based intervention that has been shown, when implemented with fidelity, to improve outcomes for both parents and children affected by child maltreatment and parental substance use disorders (SUDs). The START model is specifically designed to transform the system of care within and between child welfare agencies and SUD treatment providers; it also engages the judicial system and other family-serving agencies. The broad goals of START are to keep children safely with their parents whenever possible and to promote parental recovery and capacity to care for their children.
For more information about START, including components of the model and evaluation outcomes, please go to: https://www.cffutures.org/start/
View the Start Overview Document
Seeking Safety
For adults is a present-focused, coping skills therapy to help people address trauma and/or substance abuse.
Safe Babies Court Team
(SBCT) is a community-based initiative focusing on improving how the courts, child welfare agencies, and related child-service organizations work together to improve and expedite services for young children who are under court supervision. The SBCT targets families with at least one child 5-years-old or younger in the child welfare system and a parent whose substance use is posing the primary risk to a child’s safety
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment
(SBIRT) is an evidence-based comprehensive, integrated approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services to individuals who may put children at risk as a result of alcohol or substance use.
Screening Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention, and Recovery
(SAFERR) is a collaborative model to help LDSSs, substance abuse treatment providers, and family court professionals make better-informed decisions when assessing children and families affected by substance use disorders.
