National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2026
This brief distills two decades of learning from the Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Program to identify the core collaborative strategies that help improve outcomes for families affected by parental substance use disorders. It highlights the essential elements of effective cross-system work, including shared goals, formalized structures, consistent communication, integrated service delivery, and data-informed decision making. Drawing on examples from multiple RPG cohorts, the brief offers practical guidance and sustainability considerations to help child welfare, substance use disorder treatment, courts, and other partners deepen collaboration and strengthen practices that support improved outcomes for children and families.
Topic(s): Building Collaborative Capacity
Section: Policy and Practice Resources
