5 Ways Social Service Administrators Can Use Public Health Data and Resources to Address Substance Use Disorders

Social service agency administrators are responsible for identifying an array of resources to serve youth and families. Also, these administrators are responsible for evaluating program effectiveness and ensuring equity. Their work is critical for youth and families involved in the juvenile and family justice system, as these families frequently have a complex set of needs. Currently, many communities are facing the adverse effects of the opioid crisis, including an increased number of newborns exposed to substances at birth. Social service administrators likely collect and use local substance use, treatment, and overdose data to understand the needs of their communities. However, it is important to also understand how local data compares to national public health data to make essential funding and development decisions. In this technical assistance bulletin are five ways social service administrators can use a combination of data and other resources to improve policy and practice related to the ill effects of substance use disorders (SUDs).