The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #35134

James McKay, PhD¹, Marjorie A. Gutman, PhD², A.T. McLellan, PhD², Robert D. Ketterlinus, PhD², and Mary Randall, PhD². (1) Treatment Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, 234 38th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19108, (215) 823-4220, mckay_j@mail.trc.upenn.edu, (2) Treatment Research Institute, Public Ledger Building, Suite 600, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106

This presentation focuses on the treatment services received by women participating in an initial study of CASAWORKS for Families (CWF), a program designed to provide a wide range of services to substance abusing women who were attempting to move from welfare to work. The CWF program was recently evaluated in 11 sites around the nation. Predictors of retention in the program were examined, as was the relation of retention and services received to employment and substance use outcomes at 12 months. Data on services received at 1, 3, 6, and 12 month post-intake follow-ups indicated that the program was successful in delivering services. Most women received services to address medical, employment, basic needs, alcohol and drug, family, and psychiatric problems during the first six months of the program. The clients also had frequent contact with their case managers, and were retained in the program for an average of 222 days. Better retention in the program was predicted by a number of factors at baseline, including heroin use, higher psychiatric severity, and greater basic needs problems. Poorer retention was predicted by greater alcohol and cocaine use, more severe problems with children and other family members, and worse employment status at baseline. Longer retention was associated with better alcohol use outcomes, but was unrelated to employment or drug use outcomes. More alcohol and drug treatment services received in the first month predicted better substance abuse status at 12 months, but none of the other treatment service measures predicted substance use or employment outcomes. Implications of the findings for further development of the CASAWORKS program are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe treatment services received by women in the CASAWORKS for Families program,
• Examine relationship of retention and services received to employment and substance abuse outcomes at 12 months.

Keywords: Drug Addiction, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.