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M-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together) is a highly acclaimed intervention designed to support children living in families with parental substance misuse. It has been developed by Action on Addiction’s For Families. Action on Addiction takes action to disarm addiction through research, treatment, family support, education and training.

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You don’t have to be addicted to suffer from addiction. At least 1.3 million children are living with substance misusing parents. They need our help as much as the person who is addicted, so M-PACT is a programme designed to include the whole family.

Children living with substance misusing parents

Research is key in giving us the clearest picture of the world of addiction. This is how we know millions of children are living with its consequences. Often isolated, confused and conflicted, these children may be physically and emotionally neglected; some seriously at risk.

Often, these children take on ‘caring roles’ within the home, attempting to calm the chaos caused by addiction. They form an invisible, unrecognised population of young carers in the UK.

“M-PACT forces you to see yourself as others see you. It makes you more self-aware.”

- M-PACT participantM-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together)

The For Families team listened to clients and identified the need for a programme to meet the needs of these children as well as the adults. M-PACT is the result.

“It taught the kids you don’t have deal with your parents’ problems; you just have to cope with them. It is not your fault and it is not your responsibility.”

- M-PACT participant

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“M-PACT allows children to talk about their feelings and experiences, with their parents, in a safe environment. This could be the first time a parent realises how deeply their children are effected by their behaviour.”

- M-PACT practitioner

the programme to devise a continuing care plan. The reunion is crucial in measuring progress, maintaining momentum and spotting any new issues that may have arisen.

M-PACT allows children to talk about their feelings and experiences, with their parents, in a safe environment. This could be the first time a parent realises how deeply their children are effected by their behaviour. Either way, just to discover there are others like them, children and adults, living with the same stresses can be a revelation.

The M-PACT programme is a brief psychosocial and educational intervention taking a whole-family approach.

M-PACT helps to improve the physical and psychological health and well being of children affected parental substance misuse. It does this by:

•Reducing harmful patterns of behaviour• Improving communication• Improving the safety of the home environment•Building resilience and improving coping skills• Identifying and building on a family’s strengths.

The programme takes in children from eight to 17 years, although in some circumstances younger children will be considered. M-PACT consists of eight core sessions with a reunion 12 weeks after that. Each family is individually assessed before embarking on the eight-week programme. Core sessions last for two and a half hours during which children and adults meet separately and together. Each family has a review meeting at the end of

“We’re all a lot more aware, things are calmer. Mum and Dad are getting the help they need, and me and [my sibling] are getting the help we need. Hopefully it will be just… us back together normally without addiction.”

- M-PACT participantThe M-PACT programme

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“This is not just a manual; it’s a call to action.”- M-PACT practitioner

•The programme makes people realise not only that help is available, but that there are others like them from whom they will learn and gain support

•The biggest positive change seen for families is in family communication

•Being supported to set realistic goals tailored to individual situations is valued.

The M-PACT programme has been independently evaluated by the Mental Health Research and Development Unit (MHRDU) in Bath (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and the University of Bath) and by Lorna Templeton Research. The findings of all completed evaluations can be found via our website at www.actiononaddiction.org.uk.

The research results have identified that:

•The programme empowers families to make positive changes in areas consistent with the aims of the programme

•Working with whole families, M-PACT has the potential to take pressure off other services by offering a unique support resource that helps families take the first steps towards positive change

“The programme empowers families to make positive changes”

- M-PACT practitioner

Evaluation results

M-PACT responds to and is regularly informed by current policies including:

•Hidden Harm: Responding to the needs of children of problem drug users (2003)

•Bottling It Up: The effects of alcohol misuse on children, parents and families (2006)

•Every Child Matters: Change for Children (2003)

•Drugs: Protecting families and communities (2008 – 2018 strategy)

•Drug Misuse: Psychosocial interventions NICE Guideline CG51 (2007)

•Social Care Institute for Excellence (2009) Think child, think parent, think family: A guide to parental mental health and child welfare

•Reaching out: Think Family (2007) The protection of children in England (2009).

National policies

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impact of parental substance misuse on families and children. It also trains participants in the skills needed to help families discover better styles of communication.

The licensees identify suitable practitioners to deliver the M-PACT programme, it is essential that there is someone on the team who has experience of working with children and with substance misuse.

The licence and training costs include all University fees.

M-PACT (UK) aims to ensure the programme can be applied successfully in a variety of areas and settings across a diverse population. Its goal is to equip the country with an adequate supply of trained practitioners to deliver the M-PACT programme under licence across the UK. Each programme requires a total of four practitioners to deliver sessions and they must all have successfully completed the training course.

The training

The course is accredited by the University of Bath. The training takes place over four days, and as part of the accreditation, all participants must complete and pass a written assignment. It provides a theoretical and practical framework in which practitioners can understand the

M-PACT training and licence scheme

“The M-PACT course has given me the skills to deliver the programme, but also, all of the learning can be transferred into all my work with children and families. It’s re-ignited my passion to practice.”

- M-PACT practitioner

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The licence model

The licence model has been developed to ensure the M-PACT programme retains its integrity and is delivered to the correct high standard. The licence agreement covers the organisation/area and not the individual. Should an M-PACT practitioner leave, they will not be able to practice M-PACT unless the organisation/area to which they move also has a licence.

As part of the licence, organisations/areas will receive:

•Project management support (four meetings) for the first M-PACT programme delivered

•Three days on-site consultancy support

•One copy of the programme manual per trained practitioner plus updates

•Ongoing support, advice and guidance during preparation and delivery of the M-PACT programme

•Access to national data from collated M-PACT programme evaluations

•Free attendance to the annual M-PACT seminar for all practitioners, managers and commissioners.

“It has given me new knowledge and understanding which I would like to share with others at work.”

- M-PACT trainee

“The manuals are excellent and give good clear guidance on how it can be delivered…. The trainers were very approachable and more than happy to be flexible with the schedule.”

- M-PACT trainee

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For FamiliesJill Cunningham HouseEast KnoyleSalisburyWiltshire SP3 6BE

tel: 01747 832015email: forfamilies@actiononaddiction.org.ukwww.actiononaddiction.org.uk

Contact us

For Families is part of Action on Addiction. We take action to disarm addiction. We do this through research, treatment, family support, advocacy, education and training.

Contact us

For more information about For Families or any of our other services:

Visit www.actiononaddiction.org.ukCall us on 0300 330 0659Email action@actiononaddiction.org.uk

Action on AddictionHead Office East Knoyle Salisbury Wiltshire SP3 6BE

Registered Charity No. 1117988Registered Company No. 05947481