BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF FAMILY INCLUSIVE PRACTICE

‘It is likely that, if the family is willing to participate in treatment, the client is more likely to pursue seeking help.’ (Diamond, 2002)

BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES

Family Inclusive Practice acknowledges that alcohol and drug problems have significant impacts on families. FIP therefore provides an opportunity for everyone to receive the support they need. Families also have much to contribute to treatment. The benefits of FIP include the following:

• Families, whanau and significant others can provide more comprehensive information and insight about stressors, problematic situations, and coping strategies.
• Families may start addressing issues relating to their own substance use.
• Open communication can increase within the family.
• Everyone involved gains insight and learning, receives support and experiences opportunities to make change.
• Children can be referred to appropriate programmes or receive input from specialist services.
• Support systems are more able to provide support beyond the sessions.

‘A whanau will provide reassurance, aroha, confidence, warmth, empowerment and mana to the client which will sustain the client’ (ALAC, 1996)

BENEFITS FOR MAORI

In Kaupapa Maori Services, inclusion of whanau is considered to be standard practice. Practicing the principle of Whanaungatanga means embracing whanau and incorporating them in treatment. It is about acknowledging the inter-connectedness and interdependence of an individual and all members of the whanau, hapu and iwi.

BENEFITS FOR PACIFIC PEOPLES

Pacific Island cultures see the person as an integrated part of a bigger picture. Family and culture play an essential role in the health and wellbeing of a person. Working towards good health means that everybody is included and therefore affected by interventions and outcomes of the treatment.

BENEFITS FOR PRACTITIONERS

The primary benefit to the practitioner of including social networks is that the client is more likely to succeed in treatment.

Developing FIP means...

• The social environment is viewed as central to AOD and Mental Health issues - rather than an adjunct.
• Family is acknowledged as a legitimate unit of intervention – the treatment base is widened.
• The potential outcomes of involving family are recognised.

Family Inclusive Practice requires certain skills but most important is the belief that it provides better outcomes for the client - and those affected by their alcohol and drug use.

CHALLENGES TO USING FAMILY INCLUSIVE PRACTICE

FIP requires that we create a family friendly treatment environment. Clearly there are challenges to adapting a family inclusive paradigm to the treatment of addictions.

These generally come from three sources:

• Organizations - it may be deemed easier to identify a single focus point of service delivery. 
• Families - involving families requires individuals to accept that everyone is connected.
• Practitioners - some may feel uncomfortable adapting to new treatment modalities.

© KINA - Families and Addictions Trust