There’s a lot that adults can do to support kids impacted by addiction in their family.
Any adult can be the difference in the life of a child.
Recovery for kids concepts
We have a whole workshop series on the Seven Cs. Click the image to see the workshop outlines.
The Seven Cs.
Jerry Moe developed the Seven Cs as a foundation for supporting children from homes with addiction issues.
Caregivers can help kids learn and practice the Seven Cs to decrease the adverse impact of parental addiction.
The 3 unspoken rules.
Dr. Claudia Black is an expert in family systems and addictive disorders.
Caregivers can help kids by creating an environment that counters the 3 spoken rules at home.
6 ways to help
NPR’s Life Kit episode:
Helping a Child Whose Parent Is Struggling With Addiction.
Any adult can become a ‘caring adult’ for kids from homes with addiction issues by increasing their awareness about the problems these kids face and how to be of support.
Addiction education.
Research has shown that children benefit when provided with age appropriate addiction information that is based on facts. Caregivers can also help by avoiding misinformation which adds to confusion and erodes trust.
It can be a hard topic to talk about so we’ve provided some basic info below to get you started.
Help kids increase their ability to identify, name, and understand feelings.
Emotional literacy.
Big experiences come with big feelings. The first step in managing uncomfortable feelings is being able to talk about them. Children from stressed environments need extra help from caregivers with learning how to name and describe their feelings.
Visit the resources on Sesame Street ‘In Communities,’ by typing feelings in the search function.
Kids deserve to ‘just be kids.’
Play.
Addiction in the family significantly diminishes the childhood experience. Instead of carefree wonder, kids immersed in the stressed environment of active addiction live in worry, fear, confusion and isolation. Fun and play aren’t mere aspects of childhood, rather an integral part of healthy adjustment to adolescence and adulthood.
Toolkits
By NACoA
The National Association for Children of Addiction was formed in 1983 to address the needs of family members of alcoholics, especially their children. Their mission is to eliminate the adverse impact alcohol and drug use has on children and families.
Take a look at one webinar that took place during Children of Addiction Awareness Week 2021, February 14 - 20th.
Addiction Compassion During COVID
Marie Gallo Dyak, President/CEO of Entertainment Industries Council (EIC), a nonprofit committed to the accurate media portrayal of substance use disorders, mental health and other related health issues.
Judge Rancourt, discusses the role judges and the court system can play in connecting individuals with resources that help prevent generational cycles of addiction.
Jerry Moe, is the Director of Children's Programming at Betty Ford and an advisory board member of the National Association of Children of Addiction (NACoAA). Jerry speaks to the important role caring adults can make during the isolation of COVID.
Dr. Gaya Dowling, is the Director of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Project at the National Institute on Drug on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Dowling presents key findings about the study as they relate to children from homes with addiction issues.
Infographics
Practice LOVEE.
Teaching COAs about safety
There are many reasons why children of addiction (COA) need the adults in their lives to teach them about safety, including that they deserve to take good care of themselves.
