The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41391

JoAnn Y. Sacks, PhD, National Development & Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd St., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010, (212) 845-4648, jysacks@hotmail.com

The NDRI/Gaudenzia Family and Aftercare Model (FAM) provides comprehensive therapeutic community (TC) residential and aftercare treatment services for women and their children to address the needs of homeless families in which the mother is currently head of household, has a substance abuse disorder, and lifetime exposure to trauma/abuse. The FAM consists of a core TC for women and their children with enhancements that provide (1) trauma recovery, (2) housing case assistance, (3) community reintegration, and (4) children’s prevention services. The intervention is planned for 4-6 months of residential treatment, in which women bring their children with them, followed by 3 months of integrated aftercare.

The FAM is one of eight interventions being studied in the CMHS/CSAT Homeless Families Program. FAM is unique in that it integrates trauma recovery treatment, utilizing the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), within a traditional substance abuse treatment program for women and children. The anticipated effect is that FAM will result in positive outcomes on the targeted areas of substance abuse, mental health, trauma recovery, housing stability, family re-integration, social functioning, and improvements in the children’s functioning.

The study has the potential to make important contributions to the field of homeless families: (1) the innovative features of the FAM intervention have important implications for prevention and breaking the cycle of poverty, homelessness, substance abuse and family disruption. (2) The study advances research and guides practice through a rigorous study of the FAM program effectiveness compared to TC treatment without enhancements.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the therapeutic community model of treatment and enhancements that are being tested for homeless families
• Discuss the role and potential of innovative features in family substance abuse treatment, such as trauma recovery, in breaking the cycle of homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and family disruption

Keywords: Homelessness,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.