Essay Example on How Substance Abuse and Conflict Affects Parents and Children

Introduction

Domestic conflicts and instability caused by absent parenthood hurt child growth and development. For local environments that are characterized by high levels of hatred and conflict between parents, children are exposed to risks of developing behavioral, emotional, and social problems. Such problems are likely to affect child concentration and academic performance. When children are exposed to frequent and intense fights between the parents, they become less secure, and they lose their sense of security and safety (Bernard, Simons, & Dozier, 2015). Such developments impact negatively on the relationship between the children and their parents and also their relationship with other people. When parental conflict affects children, it results in adjustment problems as older children are likely to consider themselves as reasons for the conflict between their parents. In general, parenting should occur within a structured environment where children enjoy the warmth and emotional support. Parents need to offer their children positive reinforcement.

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The parental conflict has a direct effect on children. Parental fights in the presence of children cause distress among children. Some of the common reactions among children who are exposed to parental conflict include fear, anxiety, anger, and sadness. Such children are at a higher risk of exposure to health problems. They are also likely to have disturbed sleep and challenges with focusing on their learning environments. Over time, children might externalize their experiences by way of hostility, aggression, non-compliance, and anti-social behaviors (Whittaker, 2017). They might also become delinquent or be involved in destructive activities such as vandalism in the future. Alternatively, such experiences might instigate internalized reactions among children which would lead to their sliding into anxiety, dysphoria, depression, and withdrawal.

It is usual for children who are raised in high-conflict domestic environments to develop poor interpersonal skills. Due to the affected wellbeing and self-esteem, such children do not develop problem-solving abilities and have reduced social competence. In their later years, such problems impact on their romantic relationships. This situation occurs especially because conflicts make children attach negative experiences to themselves and their social environments. Therefore, the problems caused by parental conflict are carried on from one generation to the next (Albert, 2017).

It is essential to understand why parental conflict results in all negative impacts on the children. Parents who are engaged in drug addiction and conflicts automatically develop poor parenting skills and become worse parents each day. Such parents become more critical of themselves and their parents, develop aggressive tendencies, are likely to shout and hit their children (Lieberman, Ippen, & Dimmler, 2018). There is also laxity and inconsistent parenting that results from addiction and conflicts among parents. These tendencies have been experienced in the relationship involving Julie and Fred. Previously, Fred has been forced to flee the home for up to over a month. Instead of paying attention to the parents, parents spend more time satisfying their addiction and fighting. The risk of such behavior is that over time, children fail to develop a secure attachment to their parents.

Parental conflict affects children differently depending on their sex, age, and temperament. Children have different coping strategies and their reactions to distress vary. The level of effect of parental conflict on the children also depends on the level of child attachment to the parent, sibling relationship, parent substance use condition and mental health issues (Sheehan, 2018). The way that the children react to the conflict also depends on the socioeconomic pressure that they are exposed to. Increased substance abuse increases socioeconomic pressure on the parents. Consequently, they are more likely to be involved in a vicious cycle of conflicting.

Social Service Interventions

Many provisions at all levels of government are aimed at intervening and preventing violence within the family setting. Direct approaches include counselling and advocacy for the victims of the conflict, who in this case are both the children and their parents who suffer from substance abuse and conflicts. There exist support programs which can be provided by caregivers (Glynn et al., 2016). Recommendations for alternative living arrangements could be explored in the process of solving such domestic disputes. These arrangements may include the consideration of the out-of-home placement of the affected children. For parents who are victims of abuse, such as Julie who is attacked by Fred, protective guardianship may be helpful both to her and the children. Considering that Lily is too young to be exposed to distress, intensive service programs may be involved to ensure that the parents do not lose the child.

Two approaches may be used for effective social work programs that help each of the victims of substance use and domestic conflict. Children and their parents may be guided using coursework while therapeutic services could help to contribute to preparing parents with knowledge on parenting, counseling at the family unit, and equipping parents to lead in the provision of support and counseling for the children. Both Julie and Fred need to be actively involved in the intervention process because they will need to be introduced to particular services that will be helpful for their behavior change such as income support initiatives. It is noteworthy that programs like protective services that target children are provided by the state and are dependent on the availability of resources.

Care orders

Child arrangement orders define many provisions aimed at protecting the child if their present setting is not conducive for their wellbeing. The first thing that it addresses is who stays with the child, whom they can have contact with, and whom they can spend time with. Considering that Julie and Fred are already classified as substance abusers and are subsequently involved in constant domestic conflicts, they might be barred from having any contact with their children. Fred may particularly be prevented from sharing an environment with the children because he has demonstrated violence against Julie in the past and has for at least two months abandoned the children. These orders also spell out when the child may be allowed to have contact with specific parties. Persons who are categorized as hostile and dangerous to the children might be prevented from having contact or spending time with them until the children have grown into adulthood (Beckett & Campbell, 2015). If this were to happen to the case of Julie and Fred, the parents would wait for about 18 years before they can meet and interact with their last-born Lilly who is 11 months old. The earliest it could take to be meet any of their children would be eight years for their first born.

The person that is identified under the Child Arrangement Order like the one with whom the child is to live assumes the full responsibilities of the parent for as long as the order is valid. The courts may grant any other person named in the parental order duties if need be. Parents are allowed to agree on whether they both need to be given parental responsibilities. However, this can only be granted when the agreement between the two parties is ascertained (Pelton, 2015). In the case of Julie and Fred, a relationship lasting over a decade may make them dependable on each other, especially for emotional support. However, given that Fred has previously been abusive, Julie may not agree for them to have joint responsibilities over the children. This situation would be worsened by the fact that Fred has a history of neglecting the family, and that the family is composed of very young children.

Such orders spell out the role of the local authority regarding child welfare. They determine where the local authority is allowed to play a role in the care plan involving the caregivers. The authorities also monitor that provisions barring parents from having time with the children are adhered to. This scenario may be applicable in the case of Julie and Fred. Child Arrangement Orders are essential in determining a child's continued welfare by ensuring that the child is removed from a hostile environment and taken to conducive one. They also learn the regularity and need for a child to maintain contact with the family. There are many related factors which call for the application of these orders. If there is evidence of domestic violence, this provision comes in handy to protect the child. That implies that a Child Arrangement Order will most likely be required for the case of Julie and Fred.

Besides evidence of domestic conflict, it must be confirmed that the child requires protection. Once these conditions are met, a fast hearing is convened to eliminate the possibility of delays that would risk the safety of the child or impact negatively on the recommended caregiving processes. Such urgency also applies to cases that have a history of mediation information and assessment meetings. At least two groups are mandated to use for such order. Foremost, parents or guardians may apply as a matter of right to provide the best support for the growth and development of the child. Persons named as having parental responsibilities may also apply for such order as a matter of right. Other persons that fall under this category will be stepparents, caretakers who have had extended contact with the child. Other persons may require the express consent of parents or guardians. A second group that will need to take the legal route before they can apply for such orders include all persons who do not qualify to apply for the Child Arrangements Order.

Relevant Legislation

Several legislations relate to the caring of children if their separation with parents is necessary. Residence orders determine who lives with a child. They can be designed to favor any party, including members of the child's extended family such as aunts and grandparents. However, the priority is given to the parents of the child if they are in a capacity to take care of the children. In the case of Julie and Fred, this may be considered depending on their substance use level. There are also shared residence orders which provide that a child lives for a certain period with one party, and another period with a second party. This applies especially when parents have to separate. The order determines the best amount of time is enough for each party. There is also the contact order which determines who is allowed to be in touch with the child. Direct or indirect contact may be allowed, with the second case taking the form of written or verbal communications.

Residential parents may be issued with a no-contact order barring a particular person from making contact with the child, especially when the person affected is deemed to be dangerous to the kid, or the cause for the need for their protection. This may apply to a parent if they have a history of physical violence to any member of the family and that member needs protection by way of elimination of contact. There are also orders that apply to specific issues about the child. Questions may include the type of school that is best for the children or the right environment for the child to access medical health services. There are also prohibited steps order which forbids access to the context in which the child is given custody.