New Tool Created To Help Families In The Child Welfare System

Source: SAMHSA Bulletin, 5/10/2007

Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention, and Recovery (SAFERR), a new guidebook designed to help staff of public and private agencies respond to families in the child welfare system who are affected by substance use disorders, is now available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

SAFERR is based on the premise that when parents misuse substances and mistreat their children, the best way to make sound decisions is to draw from the resources of three key systems: child welfare, alcohol and drugs and the courts.

Order a free copy of SAFERR from NCADI by clicking here.

SAMHSA Launches New Web Page for Veterans and Their Families

Source: SAMHSA Bulletin, 5/10/2007

A new section of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site at http://www.samhsa.gov  has been launched for veterans and their families.  The Web site provides critical information on prevention, treatment and recovery support for mental and substance use disorders.

Publications, fact sheets, and links to relevant agencies are provided along with information on SAMHSA-funded programs, agency activities, and training and technical assistance opportunities.  Individuals seeking substance use and mental health services can easily find information about local programs by using SAMHSA’s treatment facility locator.

Also today, SAMHSA convened a meeting with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and veterans service organizations to better understand the needs and to identify ways local community-based substance abuse and mental health service organizations can best be prepared to assist veterans and their families.  The discussion will help inform the development of guidance materials for states, local communities, and providers to ensure a coordinated approach to providing mental health and substance use services.

For more information, please visit Resources for Returning Veterans and Their Families at http://www.samhsa.gov/vets/ .

SAMHSA’s Web-based Family Guide for Helping Parents Promote Health Updated

SAMHSA’s Family Guide: Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy & Drug Free Web site, at http://www.family.samhsa.gov, has been enhanced and completely redesigned.

The enhanced Family Guide Web site offers interactive tools, activities, and video to help build and maintain healthy adult-child relationships. Research-based articles are also available on the site to help adults recognize and respond to youth substance abuse. Other features include a Newsroom, Treatment resources, and links to other SAMHSA programs.

Children of Alcoholics Week is Feb. 12-18

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) and its affiliates promote Children of Alcoholics Week 2006 from Sunday, February 12, through Saturday, February 18. The theme of this public awareness campaign, “A Celebration of Hope and Healing,” offers the potential for resilience in children of alcoholics if caring adults support the well-being of all children, but especially those who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction in their families. NACoA envisions a society in which these vulnerable children are encouraged to seek help and have access to adults who can help them.

Visit NACoA online at: www.nacoa.org.

Colorado residents can order free materials concerned with families and addictions as well as resources to support your Children of Alcoholics week activities by visiting our online RADAR Clearinghouse store.

February Focus: Addicton and Families

Our focus for February is on addiction and it’s impact on families. Below are a couple of the resources available from the PIC that address this important topic. Please feel free to contact the PIC for further information on these or other items available for loan through the library.

VIDEO:

Drinking Apart: Families Under The Influence
Provides valuable insights into both the devastating effects of drug and alcohol dependence on different types of relationships.
Circulation Number: 10599

BOOKS:

The Alcoholic Family in Recovery: A Developmental Model
This book explores the process of recovery from addiction as it affects the entire family, presenting a new model for understanding and treating families navigating this difficult period.
Circulation Number: 11110

Motivating Substance Abusers to Enter Treatment: Working with Family Members
A research-based approach to empowering concerned significant others and family members to take charge of their lives, and manage their side of the relationship with a substance abuser.
Circulation Number: 11533

February Agency Highlight

The following ADAD funded agencies provide family support services for substance abuse prevention. Both are intended to provide support statewide.

Children of Addicted Parent Educational Supportive Services
   Description:
Housed at the San Juan Basin Health Department in Durango, this program provides training and technical assistance on conducting support groups for children of addicted parents.
   Contact Information:
For more information contact Ken Puhler (ken@coclassroom.org) or (970)247-5702 x229.

Colorado Family Education,Resources, and Training (CFERT)/Partners in Parenting
   Description:
CFERT provides family strengthening and support services through parent training, technical assistance to educators, speakers, newsletters, and the Parenting Information Clearinghouse & Resource Center.
   Contact Information:
For more information visit http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/PIP/ or contact Christine Cerbana-Whaley (christine.cerbana-whaley@colostate.edu) or (970)491-2101.