Improving Treatment for Drug-Exposed Infants
Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 5

Parental Educational/Vocational Services And Employment Assistance

Parents of drug-exposed infants are often functioning cognitively at the age at which their own drug use first began. Their education and job history may be intermittent at best. In the absence of economic self-sufficiency, drug abuse treatment and other psychosocial services are unlikely to make a permanent improvement in the family's lot. Parents of infants and young children should be a priority for educational/vocational services. Such services should include:

1. Job skills assessment.
2. Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) classes.
3. Vocational skills instruction geared to job opportunities in the local area.
4. Employment-related services, such as coaching in interview techniques, preparing employment applications and resumes, mentoring by employed persons, and obtaining and reviewing lists of viable job prospects.