MOVING PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER

1. MOVING PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER NICK BARTON Chief Executive 14 OCTOBER 2010 SHIRE HALL, ESSEX

2. ACTION ON ADDICTION • The Charity • Vision - People free from addiction and its effects • Mission -We take action to disarm addiction • Families Plus - You don’t have to misuse alcohol and drugs to suffer from alcohol and drug misuse

3. Children of substance misusers are at risk from emotional and physical neglect, and of developing serious emotional and social problems themselves later in life Cuijpers et al 1999

6. HIDDEN HARM RECOMMENDATION “There should be dedicated services to meet these children’s needs at local level”

7. EVIDENCE - WHAT HELPS? Interventions that…. • Reduce risks • Increase resilience and protective factors • Work with non-problem family members • Work with families including misusers • Identify adult support outside family • Encourage positive activities and rituals Prof. Richard Velleman

8. Moving Parents and Children Together

9. MOVING PARENTS & CHILDREN TOGETHER PARENTS CHILDREN ADDICTION

10. Development • Response to service user approach • Survey of parents and children • Research of existing models • Design • Partnership working • Evaluation • Manual

11. Who is M-PACT for? • Children 8-17 • Adults (carers, parents) • Using and non-using • Capable of meaningful engagement • Not all family members will choose to attend

12. The Programme • Whole family approach • Different families at the same time • Work with adults and children together and separately • 4 facilitators • Safeguarding

13. The Programme • Families individually assessed • 8 weekly sessions - 2.5 hours • Structured sessions - Different areas focused on • Review for each family • Reunion • Externally supervised

14. The Approach • Collaborative • Non-judgemental • Focus on strengths • Flexibility • Provide a safe place • Build resilience and coping • Provide resources • Have fun

15. MESSAGES TO MYSELF I didn’t cause it I can’t cure it I can’t control it I CAN take care of myself I CAN communicate my feelings I CAN make healthy choices

16. Evaluation Findings Mental Health Research and Development Unit at the University of Bath – Lorna Templeton et al • Positive and honest communication • Improved family environments • Education and understanding of substance misuse • Feel safe • Promoted self esteem and resilience (in children)

17. Evaluation Findings cont. • Greater understanding and appreciation of each other • Break negative patterns of behaviour • Identify strategies for coping • Enjoy quality time as a family

18. Participants’ Comments We would never have talked about it if we hadn't gone to M-PACT.  We had to be honest. There were no secrets at all between us.” Young M-PACT participant 2008 It was different to be with people who know about addiction because ‘in the house it was unspoken and hidden away’ Young M-PACT participant 2009 Participant I liked it from the first session.  I felt comfortable. I was excited.  I looked forward to the next session. I wanted to see what would happen...  It was the highlight of my week." Young M-PACT participant 2007 I’m putting in a lot more effort into asking how [my son] is and stuff…he’s talking to me more…I think he feels more grown-up now he’s done M-PACT… [my son] and I are closer M-PACT Mother 2009

19. Comments from Professionals regarding M-PACT ‘I found everything easy to use and easy to understand in the manual’ ‘All of the learning can be transferred into all my work with children and families. It’s re-ignited my passion to practice’ I have learnt skills which I can develop…I feel more able to consider the family when working with clients on a 1:1 basis’ ‘The delivery was excellent! The approach the trainers took to deliver the training was a good mix of styles’ ‘I know exactly what M-PACT is and how to deliver it’

20. Other Benefits • Adult and children services working together • Adult drug and alcohol treatment services working together • Informal networks of support • Gateway to statutory services

21. Other benefits OTHER BENEFITS Children off benefits • Children off At Risk registers • Diversion from offending • Motivation to seek treatment Children off benefits

22. HIDDEN HARM RECOMMENDATIONS “There should be dedicated services to meet these children’s needs at local level” “There should be large scale development of the workforce to ensure that these services can be provided”

23. M-PACT (UK) Overall strategic objective: An evidence based intervention that responds to children’s “hidden harm” that is available and accessible to children across the UK

24. M-PACT (UK) AIMS • To ensure the intervention can be applied in a variety of areas, locations and settings among diverse populations • To ensure the country has trained professionals able to respond effectively to the challenges of Hidden Harm • To see M-PACT becomes an embedded local resource across the UK • To establish a national Learning Hub

25. TO BE ACHIEVED BY… • Training practitioners to deliver M-PACT in local areas under licence • Accredited course • …………………………………………………… • Practitioners from licensed organisations become members of the national network • They have access to the on-line forum • They have access to the Learning Hub • They receive updates to the manual • They receive research briefings • THEY CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPMENT

26. “Maybe if M-PACT had been around when I was growing up with my alcoholic father I wouldn’t have become an addict” Mother on methadone