Implementation of a family-centered treatment program for substance-abusing women and their children: barriers and resolutions.
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.
Metsch
L R
LR
Comprehensive Drug Research Center, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA.
Rivers
J E
JE
Miller
M
M
Bohs
R
R
McCoy
C B
CB
Morrow
C J
CJ
Bandstra
E S
ES
Jackson
V
V
Gissen
M
M
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*