Voluntary Services and Harm Reduction Kathy Daniher, MA, LCPC FACT Project Director 773.233.3821 [email protected] Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center
May 14, 2015
Voluntary Services and Harm Reduction
Kathy Daniher, MA, LCPCFACT Project Director
Beacon Therapeutic Diagnostic and Treatment Center
Four projects aimed to improve the housing, health, and development of young at-risk and homeless mothers and children.
1. Family Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), Chicago, Illinois
2. Strengthening Young Families, Antelope Valley, California3. Hope & Home, Pomona, California4. STRong: Strengthening Our New Generation, Minneapolis,
MinnesotaThe initiative was managed by Coordinating Center (The
National Center on Family Homelessness, National Alliance to end Homelessness, and Zero to Three)
http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/mothers
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• Homeless or at-risk of homelessness
• Where mother is between the ages of 18 and 25, with at least one child 5 years old or younger
• Where mother is diagnosed with a mental health disorder and may have a substance use disorder
• Where mother may have a history of foster care or be involved with the child welfare system
• In the city of Chicago
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• A set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use and other high-risk behaviors
• Incorporates strategies that range from safer use to managed use to abstinence (“a buffet of services”)
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Practical strategies that reduce negative consequences in the context of the family relationship
Every family has “problems”. Every family chooses which problems to deal with on a daily basis that are most important to them at that time and that will keep their family functioning. They may not be the same choices that we would make for our families but who are we to judge what works for them. There are always natural consequences and we never forget that we are mandated reporters.
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Build rapport and trust
See small changes as successes
Recognize ambivalence as normal
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Be nonjudgmental, including avoiding potentially judgmental labels
Avoid having preconceived goals
Provide choices
Value the individual’s information and input
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Treatment Goals Court Dates School Family Transitioning from program to program
Multiple Workers (agencies)
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Training
Regular consultation
Regular staff meetings
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Administration support
Regular supervision*
Reflective practice
Open, honest communication
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FACT evaluation conducted by Dr. Sue Pickett, Ph.D. and team at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)◦ Baseline◦ 6 months◦ 12 months◦ 24 months
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67% of participants report that they lived in a foster home before age 18
Mothers experienced an average of 1 – 7 episodes of homelessness as adults
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Prior to FACT, 8% of mothers lived in their own apartment. After working with FACT for 12 months 87% of mothers had their own apartment (62 families in permanent housing)
Prior to FACT, 58% of mothers experienced an average of four psychiatric hospitalizations. After 12 and 24 months of working with FACT only one mother experienced hospitalization once (total = 2)
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Prior to FACT, 45% of mothers had attempted suicide an average of four times. After receiving services from FACT, one suicide attempt was made by one mother.
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Building a trusting relationship is key in any working relationship
Continued training and support to make any transition in practice is needed
Harm Reduction aims at elimination of harmful behavior while treating the participant “where they are at” in their own process
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Questions?
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