State Strategies to Meet the Needs of Young Children and Families Affected by the Opioid Crisis

This National Academy for State Health Policy report spotlights initiatives undertaken by Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Virginia to combat the opioid crisis and support citizens affected by opioid use. Interviews conducted with state officials in Medicaid, child welfare, and behavioral health provision roles resulted in recurring themes of effective practices, including care access for at-risk children and parents, family-focused and trauma-informed care, and sharing data and funding across systems. After discussing multi-agency strategies for helping those affected by opioids, the report also offers ways to support children and families. These include expanding training for child-service professionals, removing stigma against medication-assisted treatment so that children can remain in their biological homes, coordinating funding streams, and bridging gaps between state systems serving children and families.