This report analyzes data from a 2-year study of connections between substance abuse and child maltreatment, exposing how child welfare agencies and family court systems handle child custody decisions when parents are substance abusers. The six chapters are: (1) "Introduction and Executive Summary"; (2) "No Safe Haven for Children" (new and chronic cases, the complexity of substance abuse, and consequences for parents and children); (3) "Who Decides Who Will Care for the Child?" (e.g., family prevention and crack cocaine, investigation and assessment, monitoring progress, returning children home, and adoption); (4) "Promising Innovations: Bringing Substance Abuse Expertise to the Front Line" (three case studies of successful efforts); (5) "Promising Innovations: Family Drug Courts" (e.g., the drug court model, difficulties with family drug courts, and whether drug courts belong in family courts); and (6) "An Agenda for Action." Significant findings include: substance abuse and addiction severely compromise parents' ability to provide a safe, nurturing home; substance abuse and addiction confound the child welfare system's ability to protect children; comprehensive treatment can work for substance-abusing parents; and only major overhauling of the child welfare system and dramatic changes in child welfare practice can make real progress with this problem. Four appendixes contain surveys and methodology. (All chapters contain references.) (SM)