Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) Preschool Links

CPP Eligibility Factor: Drug or Alcohol Abuse in the Child's Family
Clarification of Eligibility Factor	Drug or alcohol abuse in the child’s family (22-28-106 (1) (a.5) (IV) C.R.S.). Abuse can be: Present Past
Significance of Factor in regards to School Readiness	Family members’ drug or alcohol abuse subjects a child to multiple environmental risk factors which impact cognitive and academic development. Children living with substance-abusing parents are likely to face poverty, maternal depression, unstable and disorganized households, passive exposure to illicit drugs, harsh discipline and possible emotional and physical neglect. The abuse can dangerously compromise or destroy the ability of parents to provide intellectual stimulation and literacy modeling. Mood altering substances can make a parent’s behavior erratic and thus disrupt the parent-child relationship. Children exposed to substance abuse often have difficulty regulating their feelings and impulses
How It May Be Documented	Developmental screen Social services or other agency referral Parent report/interview Newspaper article Court or police report
Research References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Service U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Factors in Child Development: Personal Characteristics and Parental Behavior. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://www.rti.org/pubs/child-development.pdf Generations United. (2006). Meth and child welfare: Promising solutions for children, their parents, and grandparents. Pew Charitable Trusts. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_report_detail.aspx?id=20250 National Association for Children of Alcoholics. (2000). Children of addicted parents: Important facts. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from http://www.nationaldec.org/user_files/6117.pdf McBride, H. (2009). Parent’s drinking, drug use damages children. Alcohol Abuse Info. Retrieved August 7, 2009, from http://www.alcohol-abuse.info/alcohol_abuse_info/parents-drinking-drug-use-damages-children.php Pulsipher, Margaret., Radonovich, Krestin, Belcher, Harolyn M.E. and Buts, Arlene M. (2004) Intelligence and School Readiness in Preschool Children with Prenatal Drug Exposure, Child Neuropsychology, 10:2, 89-101.
Additional Resources for Families and Staff: American Council for Drug Education Facts for Educators, http://www.acde.org/educate/Default.htm Colorado Alliance for Drug Endangered Children: Frequently Asked Questions http://www.coloradodec.org/aboutus/definitions.html Educator`s Guide to Children Affected by Parental Drug Abuse, http://www.kellybear.com/TeacherArticles/TeacherTip66.html Effects of Parental Substance Abuse on Children and Families, http://www.coaf.org/professionals/effects%20.htm