title: Implementation of a family-centered treatment program for substance-abusing women and their children: barriers and resolutions.
abstract: Recent federal health financing and health care delivery programs have increased access to alcohol and other drug abuse treatment programs for low-income women, and have provided intervention and prevention services for their children and families. The Village South Families in Transition (FIT) in Miami, Florida, implemented a residential treatment program for women and their children that aims to decrease alcohol and other drug use, reduce reliance on social and health welfare systems, improve functioning in specific life-skill and vocational areas, improve parenting techniques and maternal/child relations, and provide intervention and prevention services for the clients' children in a safe and supportive environment. Program implementation required resolutions to numerous barriers, including securing a facility for women and children; recruiting, hiring and training of staff; establishing and maintaining community linkages; treatment considerations; balancing treatment versus evaluation/research; and critical decisions faced by treatment staff as they modify client-centered programs to incorporate gender-specific and family-centered programs.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Drug Research Center, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Metsch
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rivers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bohs
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Bandstra
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gissen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002654:Child Care; D002655:Child Custody; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*