New Directions for Families

The New Directions for Families program provides residential treatment for women with substance abuse problems and mental illness and their children. In addition to receiving treatment for a substance abuse problem and mental illness, women learn parenting skills, budgeting, and family health skills, and are assisted in locating jobs and developing a career plan aimed at long term self-sufficiency.

Women receive services including parenting skills development, substance abuse treatment groups, mental health treatment, treatment for trauma issues, primary health care, health education, literacy assistance, GED preparation, budgeting and life-skills training, job acquisition and retention, family therapy, relapse prevention, and linkage to a full range of community resources including housing.

The program also provides comprehensive services for children ages 0-12, including on-site child care and early childhood development services, developmental assessment and referral for appropriate services, tutoring, mental health groups, family bonding and parental attachment activities, and linkages with community resources that help children.

Four months in residence followed by four months of outpatient treatment and Case Management services.

Program Demographics

Results Achieved

Residential treatment programs for women with substance abuse problems and their children are relatively rare. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the program is ongoing. Similar programs across the country find that women are more likely to remain abstinent from substances for long periods of time when treated with their children and that treatment of substance abuse is an essential precursor to successful employment for those individuals suffering from substance abuse.

Results of an evaluation of New Directions for Families revealed the following about families enrolled in the program during the period of 1/01 - 4/02.

For more information please contact our Information and Access Team, at (303) 657-3700 OR (303) 412-3695. Phone lines are open Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. or e-mail at info@ahinc.org.

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BACK TO HOMEPAGE		**Arapahoe House Administrative Offices • 8801 Lipan Street • Thornton, Colorado 80260 • 303.657.3700**


	New Directions for Families Program Overview The New Directions for Families program provides residential treatment for women with substance abuse problems and mental illness and their children. In addition to receiving treatment for a substance abuse problem and mental illness, women learn parenting skills, budgeting, and family health skills, and are assisted in locating jobs and developing a career plan aimed at long term self-sufficiency. The primary goals of the New Directions for Families program are as follows: To provide women with the motivation and skills they need to remain abstinent from alcohol and other drugs and to stabilize their mental health; To develop positive parent-child relationships, thus preventing the cycle of substance abuse and violence in families; To improve the health and well-being of the children; and To promote the self-sufficiency of families through linkage with education, employment, vocational training, and permanent drug-free housing. Program Services Women receive services including parenting skills development, substance abuse treatment groups, mental health treatment, treatment for trauma issues, primary health care, health education, literacy assistance, GED preparation, budgeting and life-skills training, job acquisition and retention, family therapy, relapse prevention, and linkage to a full range of community resources including housing. The program also provides comprehensive services for children ages 0-12, including on-site child care and early childhood development services, developmental assessment and referral for appropriate services, tutoring, mental health groups, family bonding and parental attachment activities, and linkages with community resources that help children. Admission Criteria Women must have serious substance abuse and mental health problems and agree to participate in the entire program, including the requirements to be employed during the final months of treatment. Women must be pregnant, have custody, or be seeking to regain custody of children aged birth to twelve. People Most Able to Benefit from this Program Women who are unable to parent their children due to severe substance abuse; Women who have custody or a desire to regain custody of their children; Women who lack stable, drug-free permanent housing for themselves and their children; Women who are unlikely to succeed in outpatient treatment due to an extremely unsupportive home environment including violence, and drug use; Women who lack education and vocational skills as a means of obtaining and maintaining employment; and Women who have been victims of violence and abuse and have mental health problems. Expected Length of Stay Four months in residence followed by four months of outpatient treatment and Case Management services. Program Demographics Results Achieved Residential treatment programs for women with substance abuse problems and their children are relatively rare. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the program is ongoing. Similar programs across the country find that women are more likely to remain abstinent from substances for long periods of time when treated with their children and that treatment of substance abuse is an essential precursor to successful employment for those individuals suffering from substance abuse. Results of an evaluation of New Directions for Families revealed the following about families enrolled in the program during the period of 1/01 - 4/02. Location Littleton, Colorado For more information please contact our Information and Access Team, at (303) 657-3700 OR (303) 412-3695. Phone lines are open Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. or e-mail at info@ahinc.org.