Collaboration for Addressing Parent's or Caretaker's Methamphetamine or Other
Substance Abuse Problems
Moving Families Forward (MFF) is a collaborative effort between Children’s Research Triangle,
Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, Chestnut Health Systems, and the Illinois Department
of Children and Family Services. The program is designed to promote the permanency and
stability of children and families affected by methamphetamine and other substances of abuse.
MFF is funded through a five year grant from the Administration for Children and Families,
Children’s Bureau (ACF) designed to promote the development of strategies to improve
collaboration between substance abuse treatment providers and the child welfare system in order
to improve safety, permanency and stability of children and families affected by
methamphetamine and other substances of abuse.
MFF was developed to meet gaps in service allocation in southern Illinois. The three main
program components include:
1. Clinic based evaluation and treatment services for children and families affected by
prenatal and environmental exposure to methamphetamine and other substances of abuse.
2. Community based trainings for individuals directly affected by, or working with, the
methamphetamine epidemic and substance abuse.
3. A Regional Work Group to address issues related to systems integration and service
delivery in southern Illinois.
As part of MFF, all children affected by prenatal or environment exposure to methamphetamine
or other substances of abuse are eligible for participation in clinic based services, which include
comprehensive medical, psychological and developmental evaluations, individual/family
therapy, and group treatment. Referrals can be made by community agencies and include
biological, adoptive and foster families. Community based trainings will be conducted by MFF
staff to educate community members and treatment providers about the effects of prenatal and
environmental substance exposure on children, as well as how to identify families at risk and
refer them to appropriate treatment services. The Regional Work Group, consisting of
community and state agencies concerned with child welfare, will regularly meet in order to
address community needs and help facilitate systems integration.
MFF has a strong program evaluation component, driven by outcome-based measures. As part
of this, goals for the program include:
1. Public/private agencies in southern Illinois will deliver collaborative services within an
integrated system of care for children and families exposed prenatally or environmentally
to methamphetamine or other substances of abuse. Biological/foster/adoptive families
will be educated on the effects of prenatal and environmental exposure to
methamphetamine and other substances of abuse and learn how to access family-based
services.
128
