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THE TIES THAT BIND

In the United States, more than 6 million children live with relatives other than their parents, and more than 4 million grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives provide care for these children. It is widely estimated that parental addiction is the reason for up to 80% of these kinship care family arrangements. When the Children of Alcoholics Foundation became aware of this growing trend and learned that there were no resources available to kinship caregivers to specifically help them deal with the fallout of a parent’s substance abuse, we decided to do something about it. The result is our Ties That Bind initiative, a program that includes advocacy, education, training and the development of special resources to help children, caregivers, birth parents and professionals address the intersection of kinship care and parental substance abuse.

The Ties That Bind aims to provide needed information and support to kinship caregivers and other affected family members, and to combat the stigma, shame, and isolation that frequently accompany caregiving in the wake of parental addiction. And recognizing that it is not only family members, but also the professional helpers in these families’ lives who lack information and skills, COAF also serves kinship care families by improving the skills and knowledge of these professionals and providing them with necessary technical assistance and support to do their jobs better.

Materials and Training

The Ties That Bind written materials cover a range of topics relevant to kinship care and parental addiction. Materials come in a variety of formats, intended for different audiences: there is a Handbook and a set of 25 Fact Sheets for kinship caregivers and professionals, and a Curriculum for support group facilitators. COAF’s live training on kinship care equips caregivers, other family members, and professionals nationwide (support group facilitators, program developers, aging services personnel, child protective personnel, substance abuse treatment professionals, etc.) to deal competently and compassionately with all members of kinship families. All Ties That Bind materials and trainings utilize a strengths-based, resiliency-focused, family systems perspective.

COAF’s electronic resources also serve kinship care families and professionals. This website (www.coaf.org) is packed with dozens of pages of free information, and it receives thousands of hits each year. Our Ties That Bind listserv for kinship care professionals concerned with parental substance abuse issues includes more than 120 professionals sharing resources and supporting each other’s efforts on behalf of kinship care families.

And well aware that there are not enough resources specifically for the children of substance abusers, COAF hopes to develop Making Strides, a kit of materials that will address the specific concerns, needs, and strengths of children and teens living in kinship care because of parental substance abuse. COAF is also cosponsor of a planned September 2004 national conference on the needs of children in kinship care because of parental substance abuse.

Advocacy and Leadership

Recognizing that kinship families need not only information and competent professionals to help them, but also supportive social policies, our kinship care efforts are not limited to materials and training—we are also major advocates for kinship care families affected by parental substance abuse. We regularly present at kinship-related conferences, participate in related grassroots education and organizing, and monitor and moderate kinship care-related listservs. Recognized as a national leader on these issues, our materials and training have been endorsed by the Children’s Defense Fund. COAF serves as an Expert Trainer on mental health and substance abuse issues for Generations United’s National Center on Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children, and we are members of numerous local and national organizing committees on behalf of kinship care families.

When relatives step up to the plate to care for children in desperate situations, they sacrifice a great deal to give to the next generation. All members of kinship care families deserve respect, support, and competent help. COAF aims to assure that these special families get what they need to cope, survive, and thrive.

For more information:

Kim Sumner-Mayer, Ph.D.

646-505-2063

ksumner-mayer@phoenixhouse.org