Strategies for Combating Family-Based Risk Factors

Gardner, Green, and Marcus (1994) suggest the following strategies for combating family-based risk factors:

• Family Therapy: Research-based family therapy programs, such as structural and functional therapy, can reduce family risk factors for substance abuse and, combined with bicultural effectiveness training, can acculturate minority families.

• Family Skills Training: "Unlike family therapy, family skills training makes use of established curricula that can be implemented by individuals who are not professionally trained psychotherapists. Consequently, it is a less expensive group strategy." (p. 12)

• Play Therapy: These programs are designed for young children of alcohol- or drug-abusing parents. Such programs may, for example, use a combination of curricula focused on education, ATOD problem prevention, child abuse prevention, and cultural pride to decrease early signs of emotional, behavioral, developmental, and learning problems, and to increase children's school readiness skills.

• Parent Training Programs: These programs provide training on parenting skills or seek to involve parents and families in activities that teach skills such as appropriate disciplinary tactics, communication techniques, understanding of ATOD risk factors, and stress management procedures.

• Parent Involvement Programs: These programs involve parents in youth activities by asking them to share their special talents with the group. Such programs typically seek to empower parents or strengthen their bond with the child and the community.