The Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) is proud to share that BRIGHT (Building Resilience through Intervention: Growing Healthier Together) has been recognized by the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) as a Best Practice and is now featured in AMCHP’s MCH Innovations Database.
BRIGHT is a therapeutic intervention for caregivers with substance use disorders and their young children (birth to age six). The intervention addresses the complexities of parenting while in recovery, particularly when caregivers have co-occurring mental health and trauma challenges. BRIGHT includes weekly dyadic sessions focused on:
- Building caregiver attunement and reflective functioning
- Play and relationship-based activities between caregiver and child
- Emotion regulation strategies
- Recovery maintenance supports
Developed in partnership with the Boston University School of Social Work, BRIGHT is rooted in the principles of Child–Parent Psychotherapy and attachment-informed parenting approaches for caregivers with substance use disorders. The intervention has been successfully implemented in multiple care settings for more than 15 years, with support from SAMHSA and HRSA.
By centering the relationship between caregiver and child, BRIGHT helps address risks associated with substance use, trauma, and early childhood developmental challenges.
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We are grateful to our partners at the Boston University School of Social Work, our staff, and the caregivers and children who participate in BRIGHT. Their commitment continues to shape this work and its growth.