Parent support program

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Parent support programs are short-term therapeutic group programs for families of drug users, which are facilitated by drug and alcohol professionals. These programs will provide strategies to promote continuing communication between parents and their adolescents, for negotiating and setting guidelines on behaviour; to increase the repertoire of communication and negotiation strategies available within the family, to deal with the anxiety surrounding the misuse of drugs and to develop supportive relationships which are held as a key factor in the remission of substance misuse problems.

The aim of this program is to increase the capacity of the family to respond effectively and consistently to the young person, to increase the sense of the parents’ competence to cope with the impact of drug use through increased knowledge about drugs and treatment services, ability to cope with ongoing emotional distress and the sense of isolation; and the ability to assist a family member in treatment.

Target group

Parent, or adult in a parenting role, to a person aged less than 21 years old with problematic substance use. This person may be part of the immediate and/or extended family, or a concerned carer, and may include parents, stepparents, siblings, stepsiblings, grandparents, neighbours, house parents, and/or friends of people with alcohol and drug problems.

Key service requirements

• To deliver the BEST Program (Behavioural Exchange Systems Training) or equivalent in weekly sessions of 2-3 hours for a minimum period of 8 weeks with at least one follow-up session
  
  
• To deliver a program that includes information about drugs and their effects, as well as treatment services and services for families and significant others; information about adolescent development; identifying risks and building protective factors; understanding family dynamics; communication and negotiation skills; the development of positive support networks; understanding of the treatment system; and developing a positive approach to health
  
  
• To improve the confidence of participants in parenting an adolescent with problematic substance use, and to reduce the stress, anxiety and guilt experienced by family members as a result of adolescent substance use
  
  
• To increase the repertoire of communication and negotiation strategies available within the family
  
  
• To increase awareness of the relationship implications of adolescent development
  
  
• To assist participants with problem solving and decision making in relation to crises and ongoing stresses resulting from their family member's problematic substance use and to increase the capacity of the family to respond effectively and consistently to the young person
  
  
• To advise parents, where appropriate, on strategies to encourage the adolescent to maintain or reduce substance use to levels, which reduce harmful consequences
  
  
• To ensure that the participants have access to a comprehensive list of resources relevant to their needs as parents of an adolescent with problematic substance use
  
  
• To identify problems where a referral to another specialist intervention would be appropriate
  
  
• To develop linkages with the relevant services including family support services and other drug-related parent support groups
  
  
• To deliver the Parent Support Program, which requires two staff members who have undertaken the relevant training offered by Odyssey House Victoria

More information

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