Course Strengthens Relationships in High-Risk New Jersey Families

The Bergen County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in New Jersey runs the successful Strengthening Families Program with a $69,000 grant from the Department of Human Services Division of Addiction Services.

Five families graduated this week from the 14-week course, which meets for a few hours once a week to help improve the way parents and their children interact in order to prevent substance abuse, depression, violence and delinquency.

Families not presently struggling with addiction but considered high-risk or in recovery are strongly recommended to take the course, often referred by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services.

Each class begins with dinner, "to reduce any boundaries that might prevent them from coming," according to Kim Mapp, a prevention specialist who coordinates the program. "It's an incentive to get them to want to come. And to also get them together as a family ... and share in those rituals."

The adults then learn such parenting skills as communication, rewards, discipline and boundary-setting, while children are taught about the dangers of substance abuse and how to understand and cope with their feelings.

The class ends with a family activity, such as games or arts and crafts.

"Whatever the issues are, there is a strong foundation of either an increase in a skill or a decrease in a negative outcome," said Bonnie Goad, associate executive director of the Council, of the program's high success rate.

One participant said that her eight-year-old daughter "really likes coming here and she seems to be a lot happier because of it. It was a nice, positive setting for her. For me, too."

(10/14/2005)