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The Invitation to Change: A Short Guide is a practical guide to the 9 core topics of the Invitation to Change Approach, the helping approach at the core of everything we do.

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Parent-to-Parent Coaching Program

Building on Shared Experiences: The evaluation of a phone-based parent-to-parent support program for helping parents with their child’s substance misuse.

Kenneth M. Carpenter​, Jeffrey Foote​, Tom Hedrick​, Kevin Collins​, Sean Clarkin​

Highlights

Abstract

Aims

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.

Method

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

Results

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).

Conclusion

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

> Click here to access the downloadable PDF

> Click here to view the authoritative document published in Addictive Behaviors, January 2020 (volume 100; article 106103)

Inquiries about the research article: Kenneth M. Carpenter (​[email protected]​);

regarding the parent coaching program, Kevin Collins (​[email protected]​).

Research corner roundup

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