PA Family Support Alliance launches 'Families in Recovery' program

Times Leader - 2/11/2019

Feb. 11--WILKES-BARRE -- Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, the state leader in child protection, has announced a new pilot program that strengthens parenting skills for Pennsylvanians recovering from substance use disorder.

The program is focused on helping families in the face of an opioid and heroin epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives and torn apart families.

Helping these parents learn healthy coping and parenting skills, while balancing the needs of their recovery, is the goal of the program.

"At the heart of all we do at PFSA is ensuring the protection of children," said Angela M. Liddle, MPA, president and CEO of PFSA. "That mission is at the core of our new Families in Recovery curriculum. Moms and dads in recovery who participate in this program will learn strategies to better cope with raising and disciplining their children, and understanding how to nurture their own wellness and the health of their kids."

PFSA developed the curriculum and first piloted it successfully last fall at Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg. The person-first curriculum draws on the latest research in addiction recovery and best practices in parenting, and is inclusive of the 12 Step principles of recovery.

Liddle was in Luzerne County recently, meeting with local agencies and officials about the program to enlist support for training and education programs for parents, professionals and members of the public at-large.

"Our goal is to always improve the ways we protect children," Liddle said. "We want people to get in the game -- to know what child abuse looks like and report it. We want to better protect kids."

Liddle said April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. According to the latest Pennsylvania Department of Human Services' Annual Child Protective Services Report, 40 children in the commonwealth died of child abuse in 2017. A total of 4,693 children were victims of abuse, including 88 children who suffered near-fatal injuries.

"Our vision is for all children to grow and thrive free from abuse and neglect. To make that vision a reality, we need everyone to become a Champion for Safe Kids," Liddle said. "If you know someone who has gone above and beyond to put the safety of children first, please nominate them for our prestigious PA Blue Ribbon Champions Awards. It's a free application and the nomination process is easy to complete."

The 2019 PFSA PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids Awards nomination forms, criteria and instructions are available at -- www.pablueribbonchampion.org/nominate. The deadline for nomination entries is Feb. 25. Independent panels of judges will determine the winners.

"We are asking for folks to consider who they may know works with kids or and has done a great job," Liddle said. "And nominate them for the 2019 PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids Awards. Recipients will be announced in April at ceremonies in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh."

As in years past, Liddle said PFSA will honor five statewide individuals for their efforts to protect the well-being of children, including two child welfare professionals, two community volunteers and one media professional.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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