About This Program
Target Population:
Parents with substance abuse issues involved with the child welfare system
For parents/caregivers of children ages:
0 – 17
Program Overview
STARS is operated by a local non-profit
community-based organization that provides substance abuse treatment
services through a contract with Sacramento County to serve families who
have entered the County's Dependency Drug Court. STARS
is designed to assist parents in entering and completing substance
abuse treatment and other court requirements. Each parent who is
referred to STARS is matched with a recovery
specialist who assists the parent(s) in accessing substance abuse
treatment services, develops a liaison role with Child Protective
Services (CPS) and other professionals and provides monitoring and
accountability for the parent(s) in complying with treatment
requirements.
Program Goals
The goals for Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS) are:
- Increase reunification rates
- Greater AOD treatment outcomes
- Reduce recidivism
Logic Model
The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS).
Essential Components
The essential components of Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS) include:
- Recovery specialists provide support, advocacy, and hold clients accountable for their recovery. The recovery specialists also act as liaisons between the court, client, and recovery center and they provide referrals to self-help meetings that are close to their home and appropriate to their needs.
- Alcohol/DrugTesting - Instant tests are used with the clients. Instant tests are designed as a screen to provide an immediate drug test result on the spot. If a screen comes up positive, the sample can be sent to a laboratory for verification. The instant tests provide immediate feedback regarding the client's possible usage. The testing is also used as a therapeutic tool to invoke honesty on the part of the client regarding any possible relapses.
- STARS reduces the barriers to treatment by providing immediate access to treatment, treatment matching, and liaison between treatment and the child welfare system.
Program Delivery
Parent/Caregiver Services
Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS) directly provides services to parents/caregivers and addresses the following:
- Substance abuse and mental illness
Recommended Intensity:
The parent is initially required to meet with his/her recovery specialist at least twice a week. Based on the parent's progress, the intensity is then lowered to one contact per week and then decreased to once every two weeks.
Recommended Duration:
It is expected that parent will participate in the program for 9-12 months. Typical contacts last 20-30 minutes.
Delivery Settings
This program is typically conducted in a(n):
- Birth Family Home
- Hospital
- Outpatient Clinic
- Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
- Group or Residential Care
- School Setting (Including: Day Care, Day Treatment Programs, etc.)
Homework
This program does not include a homework component.
Resources Needed to Run Program
The typical resources for implementing the program are:
Resource requirements are having dedicated staff who are trained in
substance abuse issues. Optimal caseloads are 18-25 clients per
recovery specialist. It is also crucial that the location of the
program be in close proximity to the court to reduce the number of
clients who may get "lost" on their way from court to the program.
The program in Sacramento is located right across the street from the
court house.
Manuals and Training
Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications
Recovery specialists need to be certified as alcohol and drug counselors.
Manual Information
There
is
a manual that describes how to deliver this program.
Training Information
There
is
training available for this program.
Training Contact:
- John Durbin, Training Coordinator
john@bridgesinc.net
phone: (916) 453-2704 x114
Training Type/Location:
Both onsite and regional depending on need
Number of days/hours:
2 days
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research
Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS).
Additional References
No reference materials are currently available for Specialized Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS).
Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: March 2015
Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: July 2022
Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: August 2006