Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Substance Use Disorder: Findings from an Assessment of the Child Assessment and Response Evaluation Project in Warren County, Ohio

Warren County, Ohio’s Child Assessment and Response Evaluation (CARE) project – a 24/7 rapid-response intervention for children at the scene of an overdose of a parent or loved one – identified and assisted 40 families affected by substance use disorders, assessed children for exposure to trauma, and successfully connected them to substance use services in the community. Further, CARE improved perceptions of children services and strengthened the existing foundation of cross-agency collaboration. CARE brought together law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, emergency dispatch, and children services, as well as numerous other community-based organizations and service providers to quickly identify children at overdose scenes and provide them and their families critical services. This report presents Urban’s assessment findings and recommendations for the county to consider while it sustains CARE and continues supporting children and families affected by substance use disorders.