This brief publication by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges offers guidelines for social service administrators on how to use public health data and resources to address substance use disorders (SUDs).
This publication of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges offers social service administrators guidance on using public health data and resources to address substance use disorders (SUDs). Social service agency administrators are responsible for identifying an array of resources to serve youth and families. These administrators are responsible for evaluating program effectiveness and ensuring equity. Their work is critical for youth and families involved in the juvenile and family justice system, as these families frequently have a complex set of needs. Many communities face the adverse effects of the opioid crisis, including an increased number of newborns exposed to substances at birth. Social service administrators collect and use local substance use, treatment, and overdose data to understand the needs of their communities. It is important to also understand how local data compares to national public health data to make essential funding and development decisions. The document lists five ways social service administrators can use a combination of data and other resources to improve policy and practice related to the ill effects of SUDs; the list below is not exhaustive but serves as a starting point for social service administrators to better use the data and resources available: (1) understanding the scope of the problem; (2) ensuring services are equitable; (3) delivering ongoing training to reduce stigma related to substance use by caregiver; (4) encouraging accurate data collection; and (5) developing local resources.