Research to Recovery 2026

Child welfare professionals routinely work with families affected by alcohol and other substance use disorders (AOSUDs), yet many report feeling underprepared, unsupported, or uncertain about their role when substance use is present. These challenges can undermine caregiver engagement, increase stigma, and contribute to difficult decisions with long-term consequences for children and families. Funded by a National Institutes of Health grant, the Child Welfare and Addiction Fellowship (CWAF) is a two-year, cohort-based professional development program designed to address these gaps through sustained, practice-based learning. Now in its third cohort, CWAF supports child welfare professionals statewide through weekly clinical group supervision, monthly multidisciplinary case consultations, and quarterly foundational workshops focused on substance use, recovery, and child welfare decision-making. This session will share lessons from a mixed-methods evaluation of CWAF, highlighting evidence of increased practitioner confidence, clearer professional role identity, reduced stigma, and strengthened capacity to engage caregivers affected by substance use. Findings underscore the importance of supervision and peer consultation as key mechanisms supporting practice change. Distinctively, this presentation will be co-led by inaugural CWAF participants, who will offer firsthand reflections on how the Fellowship shaped daily practice, case planning, and engagement with families. Together, presenters will explore how longitudinal training models can support child welfare professionals, improve alignment between child safety and recovery-oriented care, and offer a scalable approach to workforce development. This session is designed for practitioners, supervisors, administrators, and educators seeking practical strategies to strengthen recovery informed practice within child welfare systems.

1. Assess the feasibility of implementing multi-component addiction training models within child welfare agencies given workload demands, organizational constraints, and workforce well-being considerations.
2. Identify actionable takeaways for adapting or scaling addiction-focused workforce development initiatives to different child welfare or recovery-oriented service settings.
3. Explain why strengthening addiction-informed, recovery-oriented capacity among child welfare professionals is essential to improving caregiver engagement, supporting family preservation, and reducing preventable system involvement and long-term harm for children and families.