Building on shared experiences: The evaluation of a phone-based parent-to-parent support program for helping parents with their child's substance misuse

• Published in: Addictive behaviors 2020-01, Vol.100, p.106103, Article 106103
• Main Authors: Carpenter, Kenneth M., Foote, Jeffrey, Hedrick, Tom, Collins, Kevin, Clarkin, Sean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceptance and commitment therapy; Adolescent; Adult; Communication; Community reinforcement and family training; Counseling; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Mentoring; Motivational interviewing; Parents - psychology; Peer Group; Peer recovery support services; Peer support; Pilot Projects; Psychosocial Support Systems; Substance-Related Disorders - prevention & control; Telephone; United States; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106103

To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a phone-based parent-to-parent support program, in which parents who have had children with substance use problems provided support and guidance to other parents seeking help about their child's substance misuse. 228 parents completed a 2.5-day coach workshop and 6-months of ongoing training and support in the Invitation to Change Approach (ITC), a program blending evidence-based strategies for addressing substance use disorders. Trained parent coaches provided support and guidance to 278 parents for up to 8 weeks. We evaluated the coach trainees' satisfaction with the training program and pre-post differences in self-care and the use of communication and behavior management strategies among parents who called the helpline. The coach training program was rated as very satisfying, useful, and coaches would recommend the training to other parents. Among parents enrolled in the coaching program, a significantly greater proportion reported improvements on a majority of the survey items (e.g. a decrease in depression and better communication with child). Remote parent-to-parent coaching appears promising for providing emotional and evidence-based informational support to family members parenting a child with substance use problems. •Parents of a child with a SUD are motivated to provide information and emotional support to other parents.•Being trained to provide peer support in the context of evidence-based practices was rated as highly acceptable and useful.•Parents receiving peer-to-peer support reported improvements in their emotional distress and the use of helping strategies.•Parent-to-parent phone-based coaching can introduce families to evidence-based practices and support.