Children of Alcoholics Foundation.
Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: KEY WORDS: children of alcoholics; organization; familial alcoholism; prevention through information dissemination; prevention through education; education and training; curriculum; school based prevention; prevention program; health care worker; workplace based prevention; outreach In 1982 the Nation's first comprehensive report on children of alcoholics (COA's) was prepared upon request as part of the New York State Heroin and Alcohol Abuse Study for New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey and Special Counselor on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Joseph A. Califano, Jr. The report addressed the status of and critical gaps in alcohol-related research, existing programs and barriers to service delivery, the need to educate and train professionals, and the need for legislation. It also identified strategies to help this high-risk group break the cycle of family addiction. Upon release, the report received nationwide media attention, including front-page coverage by The New York Times. Subsequently, an avalanche of telephone calls and letters poured into the Study's offices from across the United States and Western Europe from COA's seeking help for themselves and from parents seeking help for their children. In response to public demand, a group of professionals, scientists, celebrities, and corporate leaders established the Children of Alcoholics Foundation. Specifically designed to meet the needs of COA's, the organization has mounted innovative programs and developed a collection of useful materials to assist this vulnerable group. MEETING THE NEEDS OF COA'S Based on a child-centered definition of COA, the Foundation defines alcoholism as the child's perception that a parent drinks too much and that the drinking interferes with the child's life. This definition underscores the Foundation's underlying philosophy: COA's may need and deserve help, whether or not their parent or parents continue to drink, and that for some, help may be needed over a lifetime. Some COA's require counseling or long-term treatment; others may do well, depending on their level of vulnerability. Nonetheless, coping behaviors employed effectively in childhood may become self-defeating in adulthood. Consequently, all COA's need to be educated on the effects of living with an alcohol-abusing parent. Rather than promote new bureaucracies and systems, the Foundation advocates an efficient, cost-effective strategy: It works within existing structures and targets people already in contact with COA's who can potentially help improve their lives but are currently unaware of the inherited predisposition to alcoholism and the pain and problems caused by living with an alcoholic parent. FULFILLING THE FOUNDATION'S GOALS To meet its goals (i.e., promote wellness, prevent future addiction, and help COA's reach their full potential), the Foundation holds conferences, prepares reports, and disseminates research findings. It also has produced numerous research-based instructional materials, educational curricula, and training programs - for use by teachers, physicians, guidance counselors, mental health and addiction specialists, employers, scientists, and the general public - that translate research findings into practical skills and knowledge. Each of these components is discussed below in detail. Promoting Research Developing and disseminating research findings and applying this knowledge to COA-focused programs have always been fundamental to the Foundation's mission. Through meetings and forums aimed at identifying and addressing COA research needs, the Foundation has developed strong ties with the scientific community. Through these meetings, the Foundation has created an agenda of COA research topics that includes genetic markers, prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects, the effects of identifying and labeling COA's in various systems, social services system utilization, screening tools to match COA's with appropriate programs, and evaluation of program effectiveness. …
Source: PubMed Central
Author: M Woodside
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W342359613