IRP Awards Profs. Mendez & Treitler $50k for Research on Families in Child Welfare System with Substance Use Disorder
BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) faculty researchers Alicia Mendez and Peter Treitler received a $50,000 grant from the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) to support families grappling with substance use disorder and the child welfare system.
Their research responds to a need for effective integrative services that address the substance use and caregiving needs of families, and will deepen knowledge about the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) among child welfare-involved caregivers and the SUD treatments provided to them, addressing a need for more effective integrative services that address the substance use and caregiving needs of families.
The results of their study, which will analyze Medicaid and child welfare data, will reveal where and for whom gaps exist along the continuum of care. It will also help identify strategies that healthcare and child welfare providers can implement for improved service integration and to advance the child welfare system’s goal of minimizing child removal. The findings will fill a gap in the knowledge base used to inform policies and allocation of resources.
The grant – IRP’s Extramural Large Grant – provides funding from 2024-2026.
Alicia Mendez is a research assistant professor at BUSSW. Her work investigates intergenerational trauma, child sexual abuse prevention, and the child welfare system. She also explores parent-infant mental health practices and how policies are implemented at the organizational and client level within agencies that focus on trauma-informed care.
Peter Treitler is an assistant professor whose research examines the implementation and outcomes of health services for people with substance use disorders, and how federal, state, and payer policies shape their treatment and recovery experiences. His aim is to improve the lives of people with substance use disorders and contribute to the development of effective solutions to the nation’s critical substance use challenges.