NCJ Number
170595
Date Published
April 1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A drug crisis center in Manhattan's Lower East Side, known as La Bodega de la Familia, includes families of drug addicts in the drug treatment process, and the program demonstrates a supportive family is a drug user's best hope for recovery.
Abstract
La Bodega uses family case management (FCM) in its counseling activities. This approach focuses on the entire family, not just on the drug abuser involved with the criminal justice system. Case managers help friends and families support their loved ones in outpatient treatment and attend to related family problems and concerns. Family members are engaged in the FCM process through an action plan. This plan proposes solutions that capitalize on family member strengths and identifies specific actions that can help the drug abuser under criminal justice supervision remain in treatment. On average, La Bodega maintains a caseload of 45 families with approximately 4 members per family. FCM incorporates both prevention and treatment by including services that address the needs of both drug abusers and families. Field staff work with clinical staff to extend services to participants in their homes and in the community. Walk-in services are available that include workshops and support groups, access to computers, information about health and housing services, referrals to primary and mental health care, job training, and housing and employment information. La Bodega's FCM approach is unique because it recognizes and responds to needs of low-income families for help when maneuvering through the criminal justice system and other complex public systems. 35 references and 3 photographs