WHAT CHILDREN NEED: Support & Education Services for Children and Youth Minnesota Children’s...
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Transcript of WHAT CHILDREN NEED: Support & Education Services for Children and Youth Minnesota Children’s...
WHAT CHILDREN NEED:Support & Education
Services for Children and Youth
Minnesota Children’s Justice Initiative
ITV Presentation: 9/25 & 10/1, 2008Presented by: Betty Conger LMSW CPC-R
Henry Ford Behavioral HealthMaplegrove Children & Family Program Coordinator
Maplegrove History of Service for Children & Families
FREE Children’s Program established in 1990 Adjunct to treatment – community participation Various settings / partnerships Volunteer staffed Children’s Program Parent Component added in
1993 Teen Component added in 2005 Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program Family
Education & Support Program added in 2005
Workshop Objectives
To identify:
Rationale for intervening with families affected by “substance abuse”
Goals of intervention Intervention strategies & preferred strategy Curriculum based alternative: key messages
Experience has taught us…
Need all systems to address alcohol/drug problems and impact on families
Each system contributes to solution
Systems help and support each other
Addiction Premise
Although environmental and social factors will influence the progression and expression of the disease, they are not in any sense causes of addictive drinking.
Alcoholism is caused by biochemical and neurophysiological abnormalities that are passed down from one generation to the next or in some cases acquired through heavy or prolonged drinking
Genetic Risk
• Prevalence rate of alcoholism is 3-4 times higher when a first degree relative is alcoholic
• Adoption does not eliminate genetic risk• Low level of response to alcohol may explain
relationship between family history and alcohol problems
** Those who begin use at age 15 are 3 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence, and are harder to treat, than those who begin drinking at the age of 21.
Environmental Impact
Living in families with abuse or addiction stressful for all in family:
• Unhealthy ways to communicate and cope
• Rules (don’t talk, trust, feel) isolate members
• Role modeling of alcohol and drug use.
• Permissive attitudes toward alcohol and drug use.
Need for Education & Support Services
• Numbers are great: estimated that 1/5 children live with one or more adults who abuse substances.
• Many children live with chronic stress, confusion, fear, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.
• Family environment affects development of children and youth.
• COA’s most likely to be tomorrow’s clients in mental health or addiction treatment, the juvenile justice system and out of home placements.
Survival Patterns: Costly to Health & Well-Being
• Defenses are like “ARMOR”
• May become life-long coping skills
• May interfere with opportunities and healthy relationships
• May increase likelihood of becoming CD
Why Prevent & Intervene?
Treatment outcomes improve
Relapse Prevention
To improve the health — mental and physical of the entire family
To break the cycle of substance abuse and associated stigma & shame
Family recovery is enhanced: Potential impact on society problems
Children’s Issues
• Worry about health of parent
• Being “upset” about unpredictable and inconsistent behavior and lack of support from others
• Worry about fights and arguments in family
• Being scared and upset by possibility of violence, inappropriate sexual and/or criminal behavior
• Being disappointed by broken promises and feeling unloved
Common Feelings I feel ashamed
I can’t talk about it
I feel “different”
It’s my fault
I can fix it
Common Feelings (Con’t)
I’m okay. Really everything’s fine
I’m no good or I’m not good enough
I’m confused
I miss the “old family” (absent parent)
Strategies of Intervention
Education Group work Family Education, Support
Parent Education & Skill-buildingChildren’s Groups
Individual therapy Family Therapy
Group Work
• Children learn they are not alone and offers validation
• Group work increases the likelihood of breaking denial
• Group work provides safety and protection
• Children experience healthy social interactions
• Group work builds trust in social situations
• Group work allows children to try out new approaches to old problems.
Educational Support Groups
PURPOSE: Education about life skills and support
METHOD: Curriculum-based guided activitiesFOCUS: Content-basedLEADERS: Specially trained group facilitatorsRULES: ConfidentialityFOLLOW UP: When problems arise, referrals
made for assessmentDURATION: Time-limitedENVIRONMENT:Supportive and Nurturing
Therapy Groups
PURPOSE: Resolution of personal problemsMETHOD: Individualized treatment planFOCUS: Process basedLEADERS: Licensed TherapistRULES: ConfidentialityFOLLOW UP: Ongoing assessmentDURATION: May be ongoingENVIRONMENT:Supportive, Nurturing, and
Confrontive
Shifting the Balance
Reducing the Risks
Strengthening Protective Factors
RESILIENCE
Resiliency
ABILITY TO BOUNCE BACK FROM ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES
ONE WHO WORKS WELL, PLAYS WELL, LOVES WELL, AND EXPECTS WELL
CHARACTERISTICS:• Social Competence• Problem Solving Skills• Autonomy• Sense of purpose and future
What resilient adults say made a difference: Had a special relationship with an adult who cared and was nurturing, often a teacher. Latched onto another “parent” figure or family. Had somewhere other than home they felt they
belonged. Had activities that were easy to participate in outside
the home. Had a sense of purpose and future. Ability to make decisions and communicate feelings
Individual Intervention:
SAMHSA’s Children’s Program Kit
Goals:• To assist treatment providers and
community-based youth-serving systems to educate and support children affected by parental alcohol and drug addiction
• To prevent substance abuse and promote resilience in the highest risk youth population
• To bring the benefits of hope, healing, and recovery to children of addicted persons
Children’s Program Kit
TOPIC AREA GOALS
GOALSAddiction
1.Help children understand the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction.
2.Help children realize that addiction is not their fault.
3.Help children realize that they are not alone; many young people live in families with addiction.
4.Help middle-school and high-school-age children understand that they are at increased risk for addiction because it tends to run in the family.
GOALSFeelings
1.Help children identify and express both comfortable and uncomfortable feelings.
2.Help children understand how feelings may affect them and how they can handle feelings in safe ways.
3.Help children understand that there are safe people with whom they can share feelings and get support.
GOALSTreatment & Recovery
1.Help children understand that people with addiction need help to recover.
2.Help children realize they can’t fix their parents problems, but can work on their own self care.
3.Help children realize that treatment and aftercare assist addicted people to get better.
GOALSSafe People
1.Help children understand the need for and importance of always staying safe.
2.Help children understand the characteristics that make people “safe people.”
3.Help children realize that it’s okay to ask safe people for help.
Key Tool for Intervention7 C’s
I didn’t CAUSE it.
I can’t CURE it.
I can’t CONTROL it.
I can take CARE of myself by:COMMUNICATING my feelings.
Making healthy CHOICESCELEBRATING ME!!!
What Messages Do Families Need?
You’re not alone.
You deserve help, and there are safe people who can help.
It’s OK to feel your feelings.
Treatment helps, and recovery happens.
It’s not your fault.
Addiction is a disease.
It’s important to talk.
You can live a good life, even if your parent continues to drink.
Parents & Caregivers Need:
Adult children of the addicted need support, education on addiction, skill building practice
Common needs:•Setting limits and reasonable consequences•Knowledge of what is “normal” development•Encouragement to have fun with children, share warmth, and build positive / non-critical relationships
Additional Parent / Caregiver Needs:
Validation of efforts
Understanding of enabling vs empowering and impact on children (and CD)
Effective communication techniques
Language to talk with children
Education & Skills
Supportive Environment
Opportunities
Empowerment
Hope
For More Information
Betty CongerHenry Ford Health System
Maplegrove Community EducationChildren’s Program
National Association for Children of Alcoholics1-888-554-2627www.nacoa.org
Training Regarding Using Children’s Program Kit
December 10 – 11, 2008 (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Crown Plaza, Brooklyn Center Registration fees, materials, breakfast and lunch will be
paid by CJI; attendees must pay for lodging Registration forms will be emailed in mid-October To receive a registration form, send an email with your
name, title, agency name, phone number, and email address to [email protected]
Space for only 50 participants to be chosen based on application criteria