How families work beyond substance misuse
Jo Stephenson
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Programme of weekly sessions brings families together to confront and manage the impact substance misuse has had on their lives.
Project
M-PACT
Purpose
To provide all-round support for families affected by substance misuse
Funding
The cost of a licence to deliver M-PACT is £5,000 plus £750 a year to renew. Training costs £800 per person with organisations training at least four staff
Background
Substance misuse charity Action on Addiction provided treatment for adults and ran family programmes but did not have an approach that specifically addressed children's needs. The solution was to adapt an existing model - the internationally-recognised Strengthening Families programme - and the organisation secured charitable funding to develop and test a version for families affected by drug and alcohol problems. The result was M-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together).
Action
M-PACT is a structured programme that supports children and young people aged eight to 17. Up to eight families take part. Each gets a comprehensive assessment and then attends eight 2.5-hour weekly sessions. Sessions are delivered by four facilitators and each covers a different topic, encouraging family members to work together to manage issues and recognise the impact substance abuse has on their lives. The programme features a mix of separate children and adult group work, work with family units and group work when everyone comes together. There is a follow up review of each family and a final meeting for all the families about three months later.
"The programme takes a whole-family approach and brings different families together when that's not necessarily done elsewhere," says Action on Addiction chief executive Nick Barton.
The model was successfully piloted in Wiltshire and Action on Addiction developed a manual and licensing scheme so other organisations could run it in their areas. Results for families include improved communication, reduced isolation, improved self-esteem and ability to cope, and greater understanding and acceptance. As the programme developed there was also evidence children were doing better at school and coming off the at-risk register - or going onto the register because of increased awareness of issues within a family.
Action on Addiction now works with 33 partners, including local authorities and voluntary organisations, with 250 practitioners completing a training course accredited by the University of Bath. Organisations that deliver the programme need to stick to the model to get the best results, says Barton but he adds: "We're not stopping creativity. For example, we have introduced more artwork as a lot of children found it easier to communicate through that medium."
Outcome
The project has been evaluated by the Mental Health Research and Development Unit at the University of Bath and by independent researcher Lorna Templeton. A summary of findings from 13 programmes from 2006 to 2011 found the scheme successfully engaged a high number of families including 80 children, while 80 per cent of people who started a programme completed at least six sessions. Outcome data gathered using the Family Environment Scale and strengths and difficulties questionnaires indicated improvements for both children and adults.
At session eight, 59.5 per cent of children said M-PACT had "definitely" helped them understand their parent's drug or alcohol problem more while 78.4 per cent said it "definitely" helped them understand how addiction had affected their family. Eighty per cent of adults said M-PACT "definitely" helped them understand how substance misuse had affected their children and family. More than three quarters said it allowed their family to talk more openly about the issue. In 2013 independent consultancy Interface analysed M-PACT's social return on investment. The report concluded the project generates at least £2,213 of savings per family at a cost of £802 per family. They calculated every pound spent on M-PACT generates at least £2.76 in savings but stressed this was a conservative estimate and it could be as high as £6.53.
If you think your project is worthy of inclusion, email supporting data to ravi.chandiramani@markallengroup.com
Saving per familyCost £802
Saving £2,213
For every pound spent
£1
£2.76
minimum
Saving
£6.53
maximum
Source: Interface
]]