• 1 in 8 children (8.7 million) aged 17 or younger lived in households with at least one parent who had a past year substance use disorder
• About 1 in 10 children (7.5 million) lived in households with at least one parent who had a past year alcohol use disorder
• About 1 in 35 children (2.1 million) lived in households with at least one parent who had a past year illicit drug use disorder
-Statistics gathered from the U.S. Department of Heath & Services, Substance Abuse And Mental Health Association (2009-2014)
The policy H.R. 5889 Recognizing Early Childhood Trauma Related to Substance Abuse Act of 2018, was proposed to require trauma-informed care in childcare settings and within the school education system. This policy would require childcare workers to be trained in trauma-informed education, to have access to and be able to use skills and tools to aid children affected by trauma related to substance abuse, to be able to recognize trauma signs and behaviors in children, and to be aware and knowledge about resources and services within the community that may help. This policy would positively impact the well-being of these children by teaching ways to function more effectively in their daily lives, have more a more positive/trusting outlook of life, have more sound and healthy social skills, and overall be able to begin the coping process of dealing with the substance related trauma involved and to feel more emotional/mental balanced.
This policy supports the NASW (National Association of Social Workers) Code of Ethics/Values by promoting human rights of individuals. It puts emphasis on the dignity and worth of a person and the ethic code of the importance of human relationships. This is addressed in this policy by recognizing how children are often ignored by society and therefore their worth, respect, and dignity is often dismissed. The importance of children having positive, sound, and helpful relationships in their lives is also a key factor involved in this policy.
This policy would involve offering counseling, family therapy, education, and support groups, as just a few of the services that could be beneficial to these children. Childcare workers using the training to direct the children to outside, community services could do either directly through educator at the school or such services. Overall, with support of this policy, many children who normally silently slip away through not only the school's system but also, society as a whole, would receive the help that they need and deserve! Sign to show your support for our children!
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults."
-F. Douglass
