Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Project (696 or 796 registration)
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
Department
Graduate Studies
Committee Chair
Dr. Karen Branden
Keywords
Child Protection Services, Prenatal Substance Exposure, Child Welfare, Substance Using Mothers
Abstract
Prenatal Substance Exposure (PSE) is a growing public health concern that requires Child Protection Services (CPS) involvement. CPS is a government agency that investigates child safety to determine whether child removal is necessary. Due to the increase of substance use during pregnancy, often linked to the opioid epidemic, more mandated reporters are submitting reports for positive drug tests at birth, which are screened in as neglect by the mother. PSE has significant implications for developing fetuses, potentially causing both short- and long-term behavioral, medical, and developmental challenges.
Pregnant women with substance use disorder may often neglect prenatal care, as they face punitive laws, stigma, and a fear of child removal. These women have a lack of treatment options to overcome their addiction. Child welfare continues to see racial disproportionalities, especially within Black and Native American communities, with overrepresentation in suspect maltreatment reports, investigations, and child removals.
Child welfare policies, such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and the Comprehensive Addition and Recovery Act (CARA), require safety planning for the family by a child protection worker. Research suggests treatment access and a strong family unit can reduce the number of child removals. This paper uses case-study methodology, evaluating seven cases by a current child protection worker, to compare the research and real-word implementations of the child welfare policies.
Policy changes will be suggested for mandating reporting, standardized drug testing, how cases are screened in, and increasing mother and baby treatment centers.
Recommended Citation
Hassel, Cierra, "The Response of Child Protection Services to Prenatal Substance Exposure" (2026). Dissertations, Theses, and Projects. 1141.
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/1141