“I have been to parenting classes before, but this group is different. It helped me work through my own issues as child so I can be a better parent. And the stuff about addiction is great.”
”I think it was great to learn to have fun in my 30’s and learn activities [to do with] my kids.”
“My attitude about being a parent has changed, the way I feel about myself has changed. I know that I’m a very good parent now because of this group.”
“I have learned to let go of my shame and guilt and take back control. I have also changed my expectations – I don’t yell as much.”
Quotes from Fathers:
“I thought I was the only one confused about parenting. At first I felt bad; now with these groups I feel like I got a chance to work things out with my kids.”
“The Nurturing groups helped me to understand my child’s mom and have more patience with my daughter.”
IHR's Parenting Program works to:
- Integrate relational and family issues into substance abuse treatment across systems.
- Serve as a resource to the Massachusetts substance abuse treatment system regarding child and family development issues.
- Develop training on issues of families and substance abuse, co-occurring disorders and trauma.
IHR’s Parenting Program provides clinical consultation and support to individual providers at publicly funded programs throughout the state, and works to develop systems which both acknowledge that substance abuse is a family disease and support family recovery. The Parenting Program is supported by funds from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and various private training and consultation contracts.
IHR's Parenting Team focuses its efforts on training within substance abuse treatment programs, to increase awareness of family needs, and on cross-training of other health and human services systems working with families, to increase awareness of substance abuse. IHR has established and led education and support groups in residential substance abuse treatment programs throughout Massachusetts, as well as in early intervention programs, early childhood programs, corrections programs, and child welfare agencies (including services for foster parents). IHR staff have developed expertise in making linkages between staff in adult-focused programs and staff in child-focused programs in order to enhance the level of family services that systems are able to provide. The Parenting Team also provides clinical consultation on individual families to providers within the substance abuse treatment and other systems.
IHR staff has led trainings on a range of topics relating to families and substance abuse. These trainings provide information on the dynamics of substance abuse from a family-focused perspective, giving participants strategies for intervention and information regarding system resources. The Parenting Team also provides services directly to families, for example leading groups on families and substance abuse which enhance parental awareness and support family strengthening. IHR’s parenting staff are at the forefront of providing training to the substance abuse treatment system on children's issues, including training on child sexual abuse and on the effects of witnessing violence on children, as well as basic training on child development which matches developmental stages of growth with the developmental stages of recovery. Training for parents on child development focuses on providing a better understanding of developmental stages in order to build parental empathy for children.
After working for several years to integrate substance abuse treatment and family issues, IHR developed a group-based parenting curriculum, The Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery. This program, originally published in 1995 by Family Development Resources, is designed to nurture the parent, to nurture the parent-child relationship, and to promote development of parents' self-awareness, competence, and skill. It has been cited by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as a promising program. It is also listed by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare as an emerging practice. A second edition of the curriculum, published in 2006, incorporates an understanding of the impact of mental illness and trauma in the lives of many individuals who are affected by substance abuse. It is designed for families affected by these issues, and specifically addresses the impact of these experiences on parents and children. Finally, a third edition of the curriculum, including segments specific to men and fathers, will be published in 2010. IHR also created the Family Activities Manual to Nurture Parents and Children, a valuable resource to parents and caregivers who wish to plan activities in which families can participate. This volume was also published in 1995 by Family Development Resources. Both the Nurturing Program and the Family Activities Manual are in use throughout the United States.
In 1998, IHR staff completed a second curriculum, Building Family Recovery, which incorporates information specific to families who have been separated or disrupted due to substance abuse and offers strategies to support the reunification process. Focusing on family reunification and rebuilding relationships, Building Family Recovery offers a range of experiential activities designed to support and assist parents in implementing and maintaining positive family structures and dynamics. This volume can be used alone or in conjunction with the other Nurturing Program curricula.
The Parenting Team also developed a new curriculum for parents of adolescents with substance abuse problems. The curriculum, entitled Parent Time, is eight sessions long, and is designed to enhance parents’ ability to help their children, whether the children are in treatment, have completed treatment, or are still actively using alcohol or other drugs. The curriculum covers topics including: What is Substance Abuse, What is Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Adolescent Development and Substance Use and Abuse, What to Expect After Treatment, Active Listening, Listening During Conflict, Monitoring, Supporting Parents.
The Parenting Team is available to consult with programs regarding the design of training or technical assistance services. Please contact Dianna Christmas, Parent-Child Services Coordinator for more information at diannachristmas@healthrecovery.org or 617-661-3991.