‘ WE ARE DELIGHTED to accredit this impressive course which supports practitioners to strengthen family relationships for those who have experienced addictions . The programme has been externally evaluated , is evidence based , and focuses on support for families and also for the practitioners who are involved in delivering this rewarding course . The focus on the voices of the children of parents with addictions , together with the emphasis on working with the whole family makes this programme a valuable asset for the field .’ Kate Halliday , executive director , Addiction Professionals
‘ LEARNING TO BE A PARENT AGAIN without addiction is tougher than being a parent for the first time . I know this first-hand . Not only do you forget how to be a parent , you struggle with two things ... learning to be a parent again and learning to parent without your crutch . I wish this had been available for me and my boys . M-PACT could have helped me when I was struggling .’ Nicole Dyer , M-PACT / family lead coordinator
‘ Critics highlight some of the potential failures of attachment theory , including the lack of acknowledgment of different norms across nations , cultures and class , promoting stereotypical approaches to parenting that do not take into account the
diverse environments in which children are raised today ,’ says executive director at Addiction Professionals , Kate Halliday . ‘ Despite this , the theory continues to hold great weight and has even been labelled one of the last surviving “ grand theories ” not to
‘ I LOVE M-PACT . If I did not do M-PACT , I would not be how I am right now , to be honest . I would have bottled up all those emotions . I just would not be what I am today . M-PACT really made me happy ... M-PACT also really helped me with knowing that I was not alone , because there were loads of other kids there who were going through the same thing as me . If I had not met those kids at M-PACT , I would have thought that I was alone , probably to this day , unless I found someone else who I could relate to .’ M-PACT participant , attended M-PACT at the age of ten with her mum
‘ OVER THE MANY YEARS of working on both the facilitation of M-PACT programmes to families and training others to do the same , I have seen repeatedly the incredible changes that families can make to improve their quality of life during and after attending the programme . M-PACT to me means connection , change and professional satisfaction . M-PACT can and does make a difference to individuals , families , and ultimately communities .’ Matt Serlin , M-PACT training coordinator have been completely dismissed , replaced , or extensively reworked . It remains an important force across professional practice and as such , the Forward Trust were asked to acknowledge its strengths , whilst also providing a helpful critique for this ubiquitous approach .’
It ’ s fair to say attachment theory has indeed evolved over the decades – moving beyond the child-parent relationship , it has expanded to address the attachments formed with others in our lives . This is a critical
Attachment theory has evolved over the decades – moving beyond the child-parent relationship , it has expanded to address the attachments formed with others in our lives .
consideration in the M-PACT programme as , despite the name , we welcome attendees who have any care-giver relationship with the child or young person .
We must remember families function in their own way , influenced by many complex and diverse factors . It ’ s important to resist the temptation to adopt an out-of-date view of what family should look like . Our aim in M-PACT is to establish what works for those attending , enabling their system to support all members in it to feel safe and cared for .
Standing still in an everchanging environment will mean interventions run the risk of quickly becoming out of date , and it ’ s up to us to ensure that we ’ re able to identify where change and challenge is needed . The new relationship between M-PACT and Addiction Professionals will provide fresh opportunities for reflection and , most importantly , continuous improvement .
Katherine Jenkins is head of families and young people at the Forward Trust
THE MOVING PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER ( M-PACT ) programme was developed by Action on Addiction , now part of The Forward Trust , in response to the 2003 Hidden harm report . Each M-PACT programme brings together a small number of families over eight core group sessions . Each session combines work with all participants , work with adults and children / young people separately , and work with individual family units . There is also a family review session , and a reunion .
THROUGH INDEPENDENT EVALUATION M-PACT has been shown to improve global family functioning , coping efficacy and communication . It has been noted as an effective intervention in several government and academic publications . M-PACT is available to any eligible organisation through a licence arrangement , which includes practitioner training now accredited by Addiction Professionals . For further information please contact m-pact @ forwardtrust . org . uk
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