Stigma affects the attitudes and actions of healthcare and treatment professionals; child welfare and court professionals; social service agencies and workers; as well as family, friends, and most notably, those with substance use and mental disorders. Negative attitudes create barriers for parents seeking help—worsening existing disparities in treatment services and outcomes—and driving away the very families our systems seek to serve.
Join National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) team members for a virtual conversation on how to create understanding, empathy, and connection to improve systems and services for families. This session is a great chance to learn about stigma related to substance use, mental disorders, and child welfare involvement—as well as strategies to disrupt stigma in the institutions and structures with which you engage. The session features a new NCSACW resource Disrupting Stigma: How Understanding, Empathy, and Connection Can Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use and Mental Disorders.
NCSACW will:
- Highlight how stigma affects professionals, families, and existing institutions and structures
- Identify how bias, stereotypes, and stigma develop, and offer strategies to effectively modify policy and practice
- Discuss experiences and lessons on responding to stigma to improve family engagement, treatment, child welfare practice, and ultimately, overall family well-being.
You may submit questions in advance of the session during the registration process. REGISTER HERE