Universal Alcohol/Drug Screening in Prenatal Care: A Strategy for Reducing Racial Disparities? Questioning the Assumptions

Agencies and organizations promoting universal screening for alcohol and drug use in prenatal care argue that universal screening will reduce White versus Black racial disparities in reporting to Child Protective Services (CPS) at delivery. Yet, no published research has assessed the impact of universal screening on reporting disparities or explored plausible mechanisms. This review defines two potential mechanisms: Equitable Surveillance and Effective Treatment and identifies assumptions underlying each mechanism. It reviews published literature relating to each assumption. Research relating to assumptions underlying each mechanism is primarily inconclusive or contradictory. Thus, available research does not support the claim that universal screening for alcohol and drug use in prenatal care reduces racial disparities in CPS reporting at delivery. Reducing these reporting disparities requires more than universal screening

Families who recurrently lose children into care: How can professionals support mothers?

Numbers of children entering the care system in English-speaking countries are increasing, with almost 1 in 4 women who have lost a child to care returning to court with a subsequent pregnancy. Currently there is no statutory obligation in the UK to support women whose children have been taken into care or to prevent recurrent losses. Understanding which women are most at risk of losing their children and the possible reasons behind these losses is the first step to preventing them recurring. This article identifies the steps that can be taken to support women at risk of recurrently losing children to care