Establishing and Sustaining Family Drug Court Alumni Groups. Family Drug Courts: A National Symposium to Improve Family Recovery, Safety and Stability

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1 Establishing and Sustaining Family Drug Court Alumni Groups Success Strategies from Family Drug Court Alumni Programs Family Drug Courts: A National Symposium to Improve Family Recovery, Safety and Stability Agenda Opening Remarks Engagement Retention Roles and Responsibilities Outcomes 1

2 Continuing care allows kids and families to stay connected, receive valuable reminders of the tools they learned during the program, as well as the opportunity to practice and deepen these emerging skills. ~ Betty Ford Institute Alumni Alumni Engagement 2

3 Early Involvement Client's involvement should start before program completion Include as an action step on their discharge treatment plan for continued care Link them with active alumni member before discharge from program Consistent Presence Current clients need to know alumni is part of their ongoing recovery plan Alumni is a visible entity always in the treatment center Multiple Alumni events monthly Newsletters, announcements, flyers, advertisements, calendars 3

4 Mentors If I can do it you can do it Build meaningful relationships with those who have similar stories Know their story and match them appropriately Recovery Specialist Make it Fun Pot lucks Social events after meetings Sober Fun Nights Include family and those part of their sober network Tools to make sobriety fun 4

5 Alumni Retention Incentives Rates of participation will increase by providing incentives - Alumni of the Month Highlight the use of naturally occurring incentives - Continued Sobriety, Community Linkage, Reference Letters Housing Vouchers Best intrinsic motivator: Praise There appears to be no ceiling as long as it is sincere 5

6 Coordination of Care Connect Alumni to additional resources and support systems Continued Case Management Staff and Alumni Coordinator linkage Alumni as participants in community outreach efforts Low Burden Delivery Bring the meetings to the members Rotate sites and times Choose the location that is conducive to children Offer childcare if possible 6

7 Keep Members Involved and Informed Responsibility of Alumni Coordinator or Secretary Summarize past meetings and events for distribution Calendars and Newsletters Send reminders of upcoming meetings and events Keep dates consistent and expected Allow for Success Participants need to feel success to stay engaged Have staff assist with planned events during the beginning stages of creation to increase chances of success Post alumni success stories in the center Continuous praise and recognition 7

8 Alumni Responsibilities and Outcomes Alumni Responsibilities Attend monthly Alumni Meetings Participate in Monthly Alumni Activities Attend Orientation Groups Link with clients as Mentors Fundraising Efforts Community Outreach Represent the treatment facility Foster a supportive environment of continued sobriety 8

9 Alumni Responsibility Creating an Alumni Council Characteristics needed for leadership - Willingness to work with clinic staff - Willingness to contribute time - Enthusiasm - Ability to motivate and engage alumni Accountability - Creating action items and follow up Expectations Successful Alumni Organizations take time - Riverside Family Preservation Court took 3 years to develop stability Lack of involvement during beginning stages is expected - Keep monthly meetings scheduled whether 1 or 20 people show up DON T GIVE UP! 9

10 Outcomes of Successful Alumni Increased rates of long term sobriety Increased engagement and retention of active Clients Decreased recidivism rates Referral sources Outcomes of Successful Alumni An alumni program contributes to the ongoing success and growth of a treatment program itself When our clients reconnect with family, friends and colleagues in healthy and successful endeavors, this speaks volumes for the effectiveness of the treatment center where the client received services. "Improving alumni relations: an active alumni program can reinforce recovery principles and boost a treatment center's marketing". Addiction Professional. 10

11 Outcomes of Successful Alumni The presence of an active alumni program is significant to clients long-term wellness as well as to the financial health of a treatment organization, as many active alumni will become enthusiastic program supporters. ~ Lorie Obernauer, alumni coordinator at the Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation (CeDAR) Q&A Discussion 22 11

12 Contact Information Alexis Balkey Program Associate Children and Family Futures If you want to access TTA on developing or sustaining gyour Alumni/Aftercare Program please send your request to 12