After months of staff traning, which began in January, the Hazelden Betty Ford Children's Program debuts Thursday.
The program, designed to help children affected by their parent's addiction to drugs or alcohol, is available in Center City, Plymouth, and all throughout the St. Paul area.
"It's really an intervention on the entire family system that helps and girls understand that their parent's addiction is not the child's fault," Children's Program national director Jerry Moe said. "It teaches a variety of healthy coping skills so maybe they can break this cycle."
According to Moe, one in every three kids across the United States is growing up in a family where someone they love is addicted to alcohol or drugs.
The Children's Program website says through activities, stories and sharing led by trained counseling staff, children learn to identify and express their feelings, develop coping and self-care skills, deepen communication with their parent or adult caregiver, and recognize they are not alone in navigating the challenges of growing up with an addicted family member
"The Children's Program is primarily geared towards children ages 7-12," Moe said. "It isn't necessary for a child to have someone in treatment. It's open to all boys and girls who come from a family with a history of addiction."
The program started in the Betty Ford Center and was revamped when Moe was brought in 21 years ago. Other programming locations include Denver, Colorado and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.
"Since there's such a heavy treatment presence for Hazelden in the Twin Cities, we've moved the Texas program to Minnesota, to help boys and girls," he said. "We do community based programs, but we also do school-based programs."
Those school programs are likely to start at Twin Cities elementary schools within the next year.Children's Program participants are never turned away for financial reasons.
"It's a great opportunity for children and families to engage in a healing process," Moe said. "Money won't get in the way. We'll serve all boys and girls."
More about the Hazelden Betty Ford Children's Program can be found here or by calling 651-213-4270.