families

Families

Vivienne Evans

Happy families are all alike

Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way

The numbers

•Nearly 1.5 million adults will be significantly affected by a relative’s drug use•The cost of harms they experience as a result amounts to about 1.8 billion per year•The support they provide would cost the NHS and local authorities about 750 million to provide if it were not available

61,000 children in care in UK Up to 350,000 children affected by parental drug use Up to 1.3 million affected by parental alcohol use In 2007, local authorities spent £117 million dealing

with families where substance misuse is a problem Substance misuse linked to DV, mental health,

poverty ......

The numbers

Families affected by addiction problems are important for three significant and related reasons:

Involvement of family members in the treatment of their relatives with addiction problems can enhance positive outcomes

Family members in these circumstances show symptoms of stress that merit help in their own right

Effective treatment of the parent can have positive benefits for the child

Better outcomes for children are achieved if they remain with their families

THE POLICY DRIVERS

Prevention and early intervention?Harm minimisation ?Recovery/reintegration?

What does family support mean?

New language: vulnerable families How to deliver at a time of austerity The role of the state Outcomes not targets Localism Big Society Public Health/Education/Crime Lack of optimismWe have built a Britain not fit for our children to grow up inIt is not government’s job to create happy families.

Key challenges

Sure Start services to be maintained in cash terms – including a new investment in Sure Start health visitors

Re-focused on original purpose of improving the life chances of disadvantaged children

Encourage more community providers to enter the market

We will investigate a new approach to helping families with multiple problems

Spending review

Coalition’s commitment to a family friendly society Families as a resource, not a deficit

Re-balanced treatment system; recovery Big Society

Opportunities

Families

Drugs

Communities

Has anything changed?

Adfam www.adfam.org.uk