About 'Healthy Families'

"Peace in Society Depends on Peace in the Family" - St. Augustine

Violence in homes and families is a national problem. Research suggests that more violence occurs inside the home than outside of it. Research has documented the relationship between violence and substance abuse. While there is no evidence to suggest that one causes the other, research has identified that victims of violence are more likely to suffer increased levels of injury if the perpetrator is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Studies have also shown that victims of violence are at greater risk to abuse drugs or alcohol to cope with the physical and emotional difficulties of trauma or repeated acts of aggression.

For over 40 years, Teen Challenge of Southern California has stood at the forefront of addressing substance abuse and its correlated problems. The purpose of the 'Healthy Families' program is to promote intimate and family relationships that are grounded in the biblical ideals of equality, respect, justice and peace. Components of the Healthy Families program are found throughout our residential, prevention and community outreach programs and are based on best and promising practices in family violence prevention. The Healthy Families Program consists of the following initiatives:

The Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative
- Information
- Background
- Existing Services

Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Initiative
- Information
- Background
- Existing Services

Healthy Marriages and Families
- TC Curriculum
- The Nature and Dynamics of Healthy Interpersonal Relationships

The Family and Domestic Violence Initiative

Background

The past three decades has seen a significant increase in the services available to assist victims of domestic abuse and dating violence. These services have enabled many battered women to escape violent relationships and obtain self-sufficiency. Very few strategies have been developed however, to address the problems of chemically dependent men who batter and even less has been done to assist chemically dependent women meet their needs for both safety and sobriety. As a result, both the substance abuse recovery community and the domestic violence service community are often times unable to provide the range of services needed by chemically dependent, battered women and chemically dependent, abusive, men.

The majority of misinformation about substance abuse and intimate partner violence comes from the common misconception that substance abuse leads to, or is at the root of violence. This misconception has often been perpetuated, despite evidence, by long-standing traditions in the criminal justice system that have held individuals less accountable for actions or crimes they commit while under the influence of drugs or alcohol (MacAndrew and Edgerton, 1969).

Alcohol, drug use and addiction do not cause men to perpetuate violence in their intimate relationships. Data from the 1985 National Family Violence Survey suggested that for man-to-woman episodes of physical abuse, 22% of men and 10% of women reported using alcohol at the time of abuse. Eighty percent of the violent episodes that were reported occurred in the absence of drugs or alcohol. There is also no evidence to suggest that substance abuse is linked with other forms of coercive and abusive behavior such as economic control, verbal battering, intimidation or sexual assault which are often part of an on-going cycle of power and control in a domestic violence relationship.

A significant amount of research shows that batterers are abusive whether they are drunk or sober (Browne 1987; Walker 1984) and substance abuse treatment alone is not likely to stop the violence. Victims have consistently reported that during their chemically dependent partner's recovery the abuse has often escalated to greater levels of danger than existed prior to their partner's abstinence. In the cases in which victims report that the level of physical abuse decreases, they often report an increase in other forms of control including threats, manipulation and isolation (Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, 1992).

For chemically dependent women in a domestic violence relationship, an equally significant amount of research has shown that women begin or increase drug and/or alcohol use in response to the violence or repeated acts of victimization. In addition, many battered women's use of drugs and/or alcohol has been coerced by their partners as a tactic to further gain power and control over them.

According to recent needs assessment, ninety five percent of female participants in the Southern California residential substance abuse recovery programs have experienced at least one violent intimate relationship.

Works Cited:

Browne, A. 1987. When Battered Women Kill. New York: Free Press.

Department of Justice, 1995. "Bureau of Justice Special Report: Violence Against Women: Estimates from the Redesigned Survey (NCJ-154348)."

MacAndrew, C. and Edgerton, R.B. 1969. Drunken Comportment: A Social Explanation. Chicago: Aldine.

Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, 1992. "Safety First: Battered Women Surviving Violence When Drugs and Alcohol is involved."

Straus M. A. and Gelles, R.J., 1985. "The 1985 National Family Violence Survey." Found online at: www.socio.com/srch/summary/afda/fam32.htm.

Existing Services

1. Substance Abuse Recovery and Prevention

The one year residential recovery program contains activities and components catered to the physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness of the individual. Specific curriculum addresses life and coping skills, physical health, methods of successful living, self-esteem, family and community bonding and leadership skills. Program services include substance abuse monitoring, mentoring, vocational services, culturally sensitive individual recovery plans, case management and peer support groups.

2. Family and Domestic Violence Screening and Assessment

3. Sexual Assault Curriculum

"Committed to Freedom" was developed by Sally Culburth, a center director of the Arkansas Teen Challenge network. This workbook educates victims of sexual assault, incorporates various individual worksheets and journal activities and offers a guide for addressing past sexual abuse as well as healing from adult sexual victimization.

4. Formal and Informal Support Groups and Counseling

Teen Challenge does not encourage or support any therapeutic method that jeopardizes the safety of the victim, such as some methods related to family or couples counseling.

5. Case Management Services

Upon entering the program, each participant is matched with a staff member (counselor/advisor) who assists them in goal setting, steps to self-sufficiency, and coordinating additional services as needed. Daily interaction between the counselor and participant allows for significant interaction, investment and individual attention.

6. Vocational Training/GED Completion

Many Teen Challenge facilities offer vocational and computer training and GED completion courses. These services are often coordinated with existing community services and many are operated or conducted by volunteers. These services assist program participants in obtaining self-sufficiency.

7. Network of supportive services

Strategic collaborations with other community organizations have enabled Teen Challenge to provide a comprehensive solution to the recovery of the individual, including cooperation with local law officials, child protective services, mental health agencies, medical and educational facilities, universities and churches.

8. On-going Service and Program Development

Based on best practices and model programs, Teen Challenge of Southern California is making efforts to increase victim advocacy and train staff in the nature and dynamics of family violence. Teen Challenge is also making efforts to form and enhance strategic partnerships, referrals and supplemental recovery support services. These services will assist in providing safety and healing for the victim/survivor, will assist in holding the offender accountable, and will encourage a community-based response to end violence in the home.

Child Abuse

Background

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, over 193,000,000 children were reported as abused and/or neglected in 2001. Nationally, three children will die each day as a result of abuse (preventchildabuse.org).

As with dating and domestic violence, abuse in all of its forms, for child victims and adult survivors is destructive and debilitating. The pain of such abuse is often well concealed. It is often hidden behind tremendous fear, unstable and unpredictable family relationships, and overwhelming shame. Victims of child abuse are at great risk for cognitive, emotional and long-term developmental difficulties. Victims of child abuse are more likely to have difficulty in adolescence and are at risk for juvenile delinquency, adult criminality and alcohol and drug use (NCCAN, 2004). Many (although not all) victims of child abuse are at risk to perpetuate the abusive behavior in future adult or adolescent relationships.

Research has shown that a variety of factors can influence the experience of a victim or survivor of child abuse including: (1) neighborhood stability, (2) access to healthcare, (3) the severity and frequency of the abuse and (4) the presence of a caring adult in the child's life (NCCAN, 2004 and Thomslin,1997).

Many of our residential program participants and graduates are survivors of child abuse and many of our after-school and prevention program participants have been identified as victims of child abuse and/or neglect.

Works Cited:

The National Clearinghouse for Abused and Neglected Children, 2004. "The Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect."

Thomlison, B. 1997. "Risk and protective factors in child maltreatment." In Fraser, M.W. (Ed.) Risk and resilience in childhood: An ecological perspective. Washington, DC: NASW Press.

Existing Services

1. Mentoring

Studies show that a person with a mentor and involved in mentoring activities is more likely to develop habits and attitudes that help insure success. Children in the TCKids program have a caring adult in their lives other than a parent, and the impact is powerful. According to the statistics:

" A child with a mentor is 46 percent less likely to begin drug use than one without a mentor.

" A child with a mentor is 27 percent less likely to begin alcohol use.

" A child with a mentor has a 59 percent grade improvement over those without mentors.

" Children who have been mentored credit their mentors with improving their ability to avoid drugs and stay out of trouble.

Our residential program participants are also paired with mentors, many of whom have successfully completed the Teen Challenge program themselves.

2. Compliance with State and Federal Regulations

Teen Challenge complies with all state and federal regulations in the reporting of suspected or substantiated child abuse and neglect.

3. Community and Church Involvement

The spiritual distinctive of Teen Challenge programs is what gives them their phenomenal success rate, as we prepare individuals to make good material, ethical and spiritual choices. We work with local congregations and community leadership and local programs to give individuals a sense of belonging, purpose and community.

4. Leadership Development & Social Skills

We challenge youth and adults to explore healthy identities and develop healthy self-esteem through activities and programs designed to build confidence, inspire logical thinking and decision making skills.

Healthy Marriages and Families

The Teen Challenge Marriage and Home/Personal Relationship with Others Curriculum

Both of these classes are a part of a catered course curriculum for students in the substance abuse residential recovery programs throughout Southern California.

"Personal Relationships with Others" discusses how to be a good friend and how to develop different kinds of friendships. Sexual morals and dating and marriage are also covered.

"Marriage and the Home" discusses biblical principles for choosing a companion, biblical standards for marriage, healthy relationships, developing and maintaining good family relationships and how to develop a safe and happy home.

The Dynamics of Healthy Relationships

Healthy relationships are based on the belief that two people in a relationship are partners with equal rights to have their needs met and equal responsibility for the success of the relationship. The dignity of both partners is strengthened in a relationship that is based on equality.