ABSTRACT
For many people, parenting is a key, even unquestioned, life goal and a great joy, yet it involves onerous responsibilities on behalf of the wider society to nurture and socialise the next generation. Child and family services cover a broad range of services from early intervention to protection and substitute care. Within this spectrum, the focus and content of the work may vary considerably. Alcohol and other drug treatment services vary in different parts of the world, but a treatment system will generally include many, if not all, of the following treatment and support elements: intake and assessment; withdrawal or detoxification; and so on. Most alcohol and other drug treatment services begin with an assessment of need. Some may utilise a brief screening or triage process to determine the level of dependency and a risk assessment, together with the extent of associated problems such as homelessness, mental health and domestic violence.
