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STAR RATING: 4/5 STARS.

CHILDREN EXPOSED TO PARENTAL SUBSTANCE MISUSE: IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY PLACEMENT

Edited by Rena Philips

BAAF Adoption and Fostering

ISBN 1903699274, £14.95

Research reveals that although child care social workers frequently encounter families with drug and alcohol problems, it is an area in which they lack skills, knowledge and confidence. This multi-disciplinary book admirably fills that gap presenting new research but focusing on the experience of the children, writes Clea Barry.

A key theme is the negative impact of maternal drug use on pre-natal brain development. After birth this is compounded by the chaotic, impoverished environment that can accompany substance misuse. The result is children whose difficulties with concentration, language, memory, relationships and behaviour make them hard to parent at home or in placement.
While the more technical chapters suffer somewhat from trying to pack a lot of information into a short space, the first person accounts from children, parents and social workers are particularly moving and useful. Recommended.

Clea Barry is a child protection worker.