Sections
Child protective services | Disability and public support
Excerpt
More than twice as many women as men are referred to treatment
by social service agencies, a difference probably related to women
making up the majority of single parents (Brady and Ashley 2005). MacMahon (1997) reviewed the cases of
53 mothers in San Mateo County, California, who were reported to
child protective services (CPS) when their infants in the newborn
nursery tested positive for illicit substances. All mothers were
then court-ordered to participate in a drug rehabilitation program
and to undergo monitoring through urine toxicology testing. The
44% who complied with treatment had repeatedly drug-free
urine tests; these mothers regained custody of their infants.