This dynamic workshop will focus on the critical importance of engaging and empowering families struggling with a loved one’s substance abuse and addiction to opioids. The presenters will highlight the development, implementation, and promising outcomes from an innovative national Parent Peer Coaching program that has provided telephonic support and guidance to hundreds of parents for up to 8-weeks. Lessons learned from operationalizing an agency-wide implementation of access to Family Recovery Coaches across multiple levels of care, including two well-established Methadone Maintenance programs in Connecticut and an inpatient residential program for young women and their children, will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the critical importance of engaging families in helping their loved ones initiate and sustain continued participation in medication assisted treatment, and promote hope and recovery for all.

• Define key evidenced-based treatment approaches that support families confronting the opioid crisis and dealing with substance abuse, including Invitation to Change Approach (ICA), Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).
• Identify opportunities to enhance processes and workflows related to implementing medication assisted treatment, to optimize engaging families and better address their needs and ensure measuring and tracking salient outcomes.