Virtual meeting
Via Zoom
Description
Family members (i.e., nuclear family, extended family, chosen family) of people with substance use disorder can positively impact addiction treatment initiation, engagement, retention, as well as sustained recovery. This training will reframe the role of family members in the lives of people with substance use disorder, highlighting the importance of family and social support in achieving optimal health outcomes. The experience of family members and their capacity to improve all addiction-related outcomes will be discussed. Additionally, this training will highlight gaps in current resources for family members and how education and information provided to family members can impact the treatment and recovery of their loved ones. The importance of providing evidence-based information to families will also be emphasized. Lastly, the training will introduce concrete and simple changes to current models of addiction treatment to engage the family and leverage the invaluable support they provide to people with substance use disorder.
Intended audience
All medical and non-medical staff seeking to learn about the role of the family in addiction treatment are encouraged to attend.
Speakers
Matthew Heerema, MS, LMHC (he/him)
Matt is a Clinical Research Coordinator for Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance, prepares and implements research studies, and coordinates Grayken TTA's MA and SUD ECHO® programs and Empowering Loved Ones educational group. Matt earned a bachelor’s in sociology from Boston University and a master’s in mental health counseling from the University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Alicia Ventura, MPH (she/her)
Alicia is the Senior Director of Research for Boston Medical Center's (BMC) Grayken Center for Addiction Training and Technical Assistance and BMC's Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) programs, overseeing all research and evaluation activities for both programs. Alicia received her master's in community public health from New York University and has published on numerous topics, including reproductive health, HIV, alcohol, and drug use, and family members impacted by substance use.
Objectives
Following this training, participants will have the knowledge to:
- Describe the impact of family members on the lives and treatment of loved ones with substance use disorder.
- Explain how education and information provided to family members, directly and indirectly, impacts substance use outcomes.
- Demonstrate practices that can be used to integrate family members into the care of people with substance use disorder.
Sponsored by
Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction TTA, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS)
Funding for out of state attendees is provided by the Opioid Response Network (ORN).
Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI085588-02 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Accreditation information
Please read the Accreditation Information section of the training page to learn about the requirements for receiving credit or a certificate of completion.
