1. National Family Support Network 11.11.14
01/02/2011
National Family Support Network

2. The Model and the Method
The experience of family members in the research was very familiar
Certain nuances but overall a picture of similarity
Non-judgmental, non-pathologising, non-directive, empowering, pragmatic and just for family members
a simple model to help understand better what was going on: a model that was developed directly from the things that family members have said.
A huge similarity in the experience of family members
Firstly I would like to say how delighted the FSN was to come across this particular model. This model developed by the ADF group in the UK is a non-judgemental and non-blaming view of families living with substance misuse. While this may be seen as the most natural starting point for those of us in the room unfortunately this has not always been the case. Some of you may have experienced more pathologising models or frameworks over your lifetime where families living with substance misuse have been viewed as dyfunctional or lacking in certain ways. You may have experienced models where the family has been seen to cause the addiction. This is reflected in throwaway phrases such as “She drove him to drink”. This has most often been the case relating to women and wives and mothers particularly.
The stress-strain-coping support model is different and views addiction as a similarly stressful experience to other common long-term chronic problems or issues such as unemployment or long-term illnesses like cancer. The idea is that long-term chronic stressors create strain whereby coping strategies inevitably are developed in response and support is looked for either from informal or formal sources. The researchers recognise that while addiction is similar to other issues there are specific elements to this experience to warrant it’s own model.
: about the users changeable moods, or their aggression, or their violence, or their disruption of family or social occasions, or the impact on the family’s finances or of their worries over the users failing health.
: their sleep is disturbed, or their eating is disrupted or they develop headaches or gastric problems
that if they get more support (of the right type: i.e. that they find supportive), then it becomes easier to bear the problems resulting from living in this type of environment.
KEY ASPECTS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE 5-STEP METHOD
The method is focussed on affected and concerned family members
The method takes a view of family members as ordinary people attempting to respond to highly stressful experiences
The method is very flexible and adaptable to a range of settings and circumstances
The orientation of the person delivering the 5-Step Method is very important 2

3. Working in Partnership
Is it possible to train members of the FSN to a standard that they could then go on to deliver the 5-Step Method training?
How many would it be possible to train in that way?
Would you be able to come to Ireland to deliver that training?
How long would that take?
How much would that cost?
If we were to go on to deliver the 5-step method training here what quality standards would we need to have in place?
How long does it take to train people in the method?
Would participants need to have certain qualifications or experience before they could do the training?
Would people be certified in the method after receiving the training?
Would they need to provide evidence to you of completion of the training?
Would they need to record or do a number of interventions using the method and feed this back?
What are the costs associated with delivering this training? Do people normally pay a contribution to cover the costs to do this training?
What are the actions that would need to be taken in order to deliver the training?
What are the numbers of trainees per year?
How will the programme be evaluated?
How much for consultant costs including travel etc?
How much for the evaluation? How much for ongoing evaluations?
How many sessions – cost implications?
Will you need to do a training needs analysis?
Will there be costs for materials?
How does it improve the long-term employability of trainees?
How does it add value through collaboration with relevant stakeholders?
How does the training demonstrate innovative methodologies? 3

4. Working in Partnership
Shared Values
Reaching family members
Supporting family members
Providing a quality service
Increasing worker & volunteer confidence
Becoming self-sustaining
Measuring effectiveness and continued learning
Firstly I would like to say how delighted the FSN was to come across this particular model. This model developed by the ADF group in the UK is a non-judgemental and non-blaming view of families living with substance misuse. While this may be seen as the most natural starting point for those of us in the room unfortunately this has not always been the case. Some of you may have experienced more pathologising models or frameworks over your lifetime where families living with substance misuse have been viewed as dyfunctional or lacking in certain ways. You may have experienced models where the family has been seen to cause the addiction. This is reflected in throwaway phrases such as “She drove him to drink”. This has most often been the case relating to women and wives and mothers particularly.
The stress-strain-coping support model is different and views addiction as a similarly stressful experience to other common long-term chronic problems or issues such as unemployment or long-term illnesses like cancer. The idea is that long-term chronic stressors create strain whereby coping strategies inevitably are developed in response and support is looked for either from informal or formal sources. The researchers recognise that while addiction is similar to other issues there are specific elements to this experience to warrant it’s own model. 4

5. Benefits to Family Members
Increase availability of family support service provision across the country (range of professionals)
A structured intervention that has been developed to meet their needs
The use of an evidence based intervention with proven results for reducing stress and strain
Working with people who are confident in their use of the intervention
Using resources that are relevant and designed specifically for them 5

6. Benefits to Services Having a service to offer family members
Providing a quality service – consistency, quality control measures, measure outcomes
Increasing worker & volunteer confidence – getting feedback on your sessions, being assessed
The opportunity to engage with FMs, build relationships and respond to additional needs
FMs become an integral element in the provision of services and in supporting the drug using family member
Financial investment is not large
Due to a self-sustaining – Irish framework it is not as vulnerable to staff turnover 6

7. 5-Step Method & National Policy
23/03/2010
Recommendations of Report of Working Group on Rehabilitation (May 2007):
Recommendations 4.2
Service providers should be trained to deal with families who are trying to cope with drug-related problems of a family member.
Families should be seen as service users in their own right, given that they often have a direct role in the recovery process. Information, support and advice should be made available to parents (and others as appropriate) who are coping with a family members drug misuse. Family members need to informed in a timely manner of the different stages of the recovery process.
The potential of the involvement of the family in supporting drug users should be utilised.

8. 5-Step Method & National Policy
23/03/2010
National Drugs Strategy (2009 – 2016)
Action 29
Develop a series of prevention measures that focus on the family under the following programme headings:
supports for families experiencing difficulties due to drug/alcohol use;
targeted measures focusing on the children of problem drug and/or alcohol users aimed at breaking the cycle and safeguarding the next generation.
Report of the National Substance Misuse Working Group (Feb 2012)
Action 12
Develop a comprehensive outcomes and evidence-based approach to addressing the needs of children and families experiencing alcohol dependency problems. This would involve a whole-family approach, including the provision of supports and services directly to children where necessary.
Action 14
Develop family support services, including:
Access to information about addiction and the recovery process for family members;
Peer-led family support groups to help families cope with problematic drinking;
Evidence-based family and parenting skills programmes;

9. The Future of 5-Step in Ireland
Training
110 trained
Working with those 110 to submit their tapes
A waiting list already for future training and Siobhan from the NFSN was taking further names this morning
Training further assessors
Collaborating with other organisations to roll out training with their groups – Pavee Point, Social Workers, FRCs
Research
FMQ – Pre and post assessment – Collate the Irish FMQs to measure effectiveness of intervention in Ireland
Measuring effectiveness and continued learning – what are the outcomes for FMs in Ireland? How can we adapt and improve on what we do?
Greater engagement with FMs builds our understanding over potential research gaps in this area 9

10. A Vision for Family Support in Ireland
History
Maintaining peer leadership
Where we are now?
Peer led family support groups
A National Family Support Network
Recognition of the need to support FMs in their own right & an evidence based intervention to achieve that
Recognition of the need and benefits of including FMs in their relative’s rehabilitation & evidence based interventions to support that
Addressing the additional needs of FMs
Parenting supports available, if required, for drug users
Where to from here?
Growing recognition and planning in terms of addressing the needs of children affected by parental substance misuse
NDRIC – Assessments, care plans and training
E.U. Leaders – Reporting on our work 10

11. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Marie Conor The Snug Counselling Service

12. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Paul Browne Ballymun Family Support Service

13. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Breda Fell South East Regional Family Support Network

14. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Sadie Grace National Family Support Network

15. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Ger Hanlon Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Community Addiction Team

16. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Michael Mason DAISH Project, Bray

17. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Gwen McKenna North East Region Family Support Network

18. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Liam Oloughlin – Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force

19. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Megan O’Leary National Family Support Network

20. 5-Step Method Accredited Trainer
Siobhan Maher National Family Support Network

21. 01/02/2011
Questions and Answers National Family Support Network, 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1 (01)