The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Substance Abuse Treatment (Adult), but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Parents who are in substance abuse treatment and recovery; and may have current or past mental health issues and/or trauma.

The Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery focuses on the effects of substance abuse on families, parenting, and the parent-child relationship. Combining experiential and didactic exercises, the approach is designed to enhance parents' self-awareness and thereby increase their capacity to understand their children. Parents may experience loss of self-image as being capable, effective parents. They may have a diminished capacity for empathy. In addition, the parent-child bond may be weakened by periods of physical and/or emotional unavailability of parents; thus resulting in gaps in parents' knowledge of the experiences, milestones and growth of their children. This program is designed to assist parents in re-establishing the strength of their connections with their children.

The goals for Nurturing Program for Families in Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery are:

• To enhance parents’ self-awareness and thereby increase understanding of their children.
• To enhance parents’ attunement to both their feelings, thoughts, and needs, as well as the feelings, thoughts, and needs of their children and loved ones.
• To re-establish the strength of parents’ connections to their children so that parents and children can heal together.
• To explore, discover, and cultivate parents’ and family members’ strengths and assets.
• To address the specific parenting needs of families affected by parental substance use and co-occurring disorders.
• To enhance parents’ capacity to nurture themselves and their children.
• To help strengthen parents’ and children’s self-esteem.