The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71841

Nancy VanDeMark, MSW, Department of Research and Evaluation, Arapahoe House, Inc., 8801 Lipan Street, Thornton, CO 80260, 303-781-1275, nancyv@ahinc.org

This paper will provide an overview of the Arapahoe House, New Directions for Families program, serving as the Colorado intervention site for the SAMHSA funded Women with Co-occurring Disorders and Violence Study. New Directions for Families is a comprehensive residential program for women and children in Denver, Colorado. The program combines a four-month residential stay with outpatient continuing care services. The program is comprehensive, offering substance abuse, mental health and trauma specific treatment in a family oriented residential setting. In addition to these core services, the program provides parenting groups, family therapy, vocational services, case management, licensed child care, housing assistance and preventive services. Children receive individual, group and family therapy. All services are delivered in an integrated fashion with a family focus.

The integration of services for women affected by substance abuse, mental illness, childhood abuse and domestic violence presents distinct challenges that are magnified by the delivery of treatment in the context of a family oriented setting. The interaction of trauma recovery, parenting skills and intergenerational exposure to violence presents an additional complexity to experience of women seeking to recover from their own childhood experiences.

The paper will provide an overview of the considerations for replication of this intervention model. More specifically the paper will cover: (1) an overview of the program design; (2) a brief profile of the families served; (3) challenges overcome in implementation of the intervention model; and (4) recommendations for programs seeking to replicate all or part of this program design.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session participants will have developed skills enabling them to:
• recognize the critical issues facing parenting women as they recover from issues of childhood abuse in combination with substance abuse and trauma.
• Identify considerations for implementation of family focused services for women in recovery from childhood abuse, substance abuse and trauma.

Keywords: Women, Models for Provision

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.