ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE-USE PROBLEMS IN TRIBAL HOME VISITING

Abstract

Given the high rates for substance use among women and men of childbearing age, perinatal and early childhood home-visiting programs serving tribal communities must consider how they will address substance-use problems among the families they support. In this study, we explored the approaches to identifying and addressing family-based substance-use problems that were implemented by nine home-visiting programs serving American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities that are funded through the federal Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (Tribal MIECHV). These programs demonstrated a high awareness of substance-use problems and took concrete action to address them above and beyond that included in the home-visiting model they used. All nine programs reported that they provided substance-use preventive services and screened for substance-use problems. While all programs referred to substance-use treatment programs when needed, in six programs the home visitor provided substance-use services. Through Tribal MIECHV, the intense need for substance-use education, assessment, service delivery, and referral in many AI/AN communities is pushing the home-visiting field forward to address this increasingly critical issue for low-income families across the United States and the world.

Keywords: American Indian and Alaska Natives; Hausbesuche; Indianer und Ureinwohner Alaskas; Substanzkonsumprobleme; amérindiens et autochtones d'Alaska; home visiting; indígena norteamericano y nativos de Alaska; problemas de uso de sustancias; problèmes d'abus de substance; substance-use problems; visitas a casa; visite à domicile; الزيارات المنزلية ، الهنود الأمريكيين والسكان الأصليين في آلاسكا ، مشاكل تعاطي المواد المخدرة; アメリカインディアンとアラスカ原住民; 吸毒問題; 家庭訪問; 物質使用問題。; 美國印第安人和阿拉斯加原住民.