OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A new report shows nearly half of the children in the custody of Nebraska DHHS were removed from their home because of parental substance abuse.

The Foster Care Review Office’s annual report to the Nebraska Legislature also indicated that most families in the child welfare system struggle to access the treatment they need.

Julie Larson, of Malcolm, knows the impact of addiction firsthand. Her adult daughter has struggled on and off with substance abuse for years and is unable to reliably care for her 7-year-old child, Emory.

“We would have Emory for a period of time when she was in treatment. She’d get out of treatment, do well for a period of time, and then relapse,” said Larson.

Emory has been living with Larson and her husband for more than two years. Larson is her parental delegate, but now they are working to gain guardianship of Emory.

“It got to the point where I just felt like the relapse was too much and Emory needed a more stable environment,” said Larson.

Larson said getting the guardianship process started was intimidating. “I didn’t know where to go, where to start,” said Larson.

A recommendation from Emory’s school to contact Lutheran Family Services led them to join the free Kinship Navigation program.

“They take you step by step through everything that needs to be done, including getting services for the child, getting services for the grandparents that are taking in the child, and getting through the legal system without having to retain that attorney,” said Larson.

Larson said the program has lifted an emotional and financial burden off her family. The process has also helped Emory understand what is happening.

“We’ve been very open and honest with her about her mother’s addiction and substance abuse. Going through the guardianship program, she loves when our navigator comes, she draws little pictures for her. She understands that once this program is complete, that it will be a more permanent home for her,” said Larson.

Larson added, the program has also helped them gain a better understanding of addiction and has made it easier for them to speak with their family and friends about it.

“Nobody chooses to be an addict or an alcoholic or a substance abuser. It just sneaks up and it gets these claws in you that are very, very difficult to get out of,” said Larson.

Lutheran Family Services also offers treatment programs for adults struggling with substance abuse, including parents who have had their children removed from the home or are at risk of removal.

“If they are not successfully tending to everything that comes with addiction, then they won’t be able to provide a healthy home for their children,” said Jamie Rich, Clinical Supervisor of the Adult Behavioral Health Program & Treatment Court Program at Lutheran Family Services.

LFS offers outpatient treatment with therapy, groups, and medication-assisted treatment, regardless of someone’s income or if they have insurance.

“My team’s job is to work with the parents to help them find the resources and treatment they need to get well, to find a solid recovery program and to be able to reunify with their family,” said Rich.

Rich said she’s seen countless stories of parents getting sober and regaining custody of their children but said it can take time to get there.

“It’s a disease that effects so much of the person’s life and those around them. Recovery is a process and sometimes a very long process. The more support and the more resources that we can build around a person, the more chance they have for success,” said Rich.

Parental substance abuse can lead to child abuse and neglect, according to the Nebraska child advocacy center, Project Harmony.

“It’s not unusual for children to be experiencing more than one type of abuse, including possible addiction of parents. What that means is those caregivers as well as those children are much more vulnerable to other types of abuse when there’s substance abuse happening,” said Colleen Brazil, the VP of Children’s Services at Project Harmony.

Brazil said that this can impact a child’s brain development. “When children have adverse childhood experiences, they become adults that then maybe struggle with mental health, addiction, and chronic health conditions,” said Brazil.

Project Harmony conducts forensic interviews with children to identify abuse and offers preventative resources for families. They also stress the importance of kids having other adults looking out for changes in behavior and making a call if concerns arise.

“That would be calling child protective services. We don’t have to know that something is definitely happening to make that call. I think it’s important to keep in mind that we won’t regret that we’ve made a call to check on a child, we might regret if we haven’t,” said Brazil.

Both Lutheran Family Services and Project Harmony can connect families with mental health services for kids as well.

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