State Roundtable Report

2020 State Roundtable Report

“A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare” – This final report includes efforts put forth by the Workgroup in 2019-2020. The report provides an update on Pennsylvania’s Drug & Alcohol In-Depth Analysis (D&A IDA) process in Luzerne County. The report includes the D&A IDA Resource Guide that will provide resources, information, and recommendations to assist counties through the D&A IDA process, including a thorough review of confidentiality for substance abuse cases and guidance on developing comprehensive policies and protocols on drug testing in child welfare. The report also provides the courts with a list of Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Residential Programs, indicators of substance abuse, safety considerations for cases involving families impacted by substance use disorder, and a judicial benchcard on the Stages of Change in the Recovery Process. Finally, this report provides a recap of best practices learned and accomplishments achieved since the Workgroup started in 2013.


The State Roundtable approved the Workgroup’s recommendation to sunset as all of the original charges had been accomplished, except for Luzerne County completing the case file review and drop-down analysis for the D&A IDA. An update on the completion of these tasks will be provided at the 2021 State Roundtable meeting. Furthermore, the State Roundtable approved the D&A IDA to be made available statewide. An informative WebEx will be provided by the Office of Children and Families in the Courts and the D&A Workgroup’s Co-Chairpersons in Fall 2021. Click the picture on the right to access the 2020 State Roundtable Report.

2019 State Roundtable Report

“A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare” – This report includes efforts put forth by the Workgroup in 2018-2019. The report provides an update on the start of Pennsylvania’s Drug & Alcohol In-Depth Analysis process in Luzerne County; contains research on the implications of co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues; and includes a thorough exploration on how the legalization of marijuana may impact child welfare. To view the report, click the picture to the right.

2018 State Roundtable Report

“A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare” – This fifth report includes efforts put forth by the Workgroup in 2017-2018.  The report highlights the implementation of PA’s In-depth Technical Assistance process within one test site, Luzerne County.   It also discusses a Resource Guide, currently in development; a Bench Card for Judicial Officers; joint work being implemented with the Trauma Workgroup; information regarding the impact of substance abuse on family members and various trainings provided throughout the year by Workgroup members.   Click the picture on the right to access the 2018 State Roundtable Report.

2017 State Roundtable Report

“A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare” – This report includes efforts put forth by the Workgroup in 2016-2017.  The report includes information on the workgroups efforts in developing a video which emphasizes the importance of system collaboration to aid families effected by substance use disorders.  The video will be used in select target counties who want to test the PA IDTA model developed by the workgroup.  Click the picture on the right to access the 2017 State Roundtable Report.

2016 State Roundtable Report

“A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare” – This report includes efforts put forth by the Workgroup in 2015-2016.  The 2016 report includes detailed information regarding In-Depth Technical Assistance through the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare and plans for replicating the process in other counties.  Additionally, it provides updates on the work to create a resource guide and multi-systems training.  Click the picture on the right to access the 2016 State Roundtable Report.

2015 State Roundtable Report

The report, “A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare”, provides summaries on substance abuse treatment and funding as well as confidentiality of information between child welfare and substance abuse agencies.  Culture change, a State Roundtable charge for this workgroup, is also addressed.  Progress with the In-Depth Technical Assistance through the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare is detailed.  Click the picture on the right to access the 2015 State Roundtable Report.

2014 State Roundtable Report

“A Call for Collaboration: Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in Child Welfare” – is the Drug and Alcohol Workgroup’s first State Roundtable report.  This initial report provides national/state data regarding the prevalence of substance abuse in child welfare cases.  Results from the Collaborative Values Survey and National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare’s In-Depth Technical Assistance activities are described.  Finally, key points when dealing with substance abuse child welfare cases is included.  Click the picture on the right to access the 2014 State Roundtable Report.