Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with opioid use disorder and lead to intergenerational trauma and transmission of opioid use issues, which are disproportionately higher in the Tampa Bay area. This indicates a greater need for additional trauma-informed interventions and access to resources that address this prevalent issue.
To address this opioid disparity in Tampa Bay, this program aims to support Tampa Bay adult residents and families with a history of experiencing at least one ACE by employing a family-focused residential program.The family will participate in social services to meet the needs of every family member, not just the individual receiving care (NCSACW, n.d.). Addressing histories of trauma and unresolved conflict is vital within this program because strained relationships are common and rebuilding the individual's support system can aid in the reduction and prevention of future opioid abuse (NCSACW, n.d.).
Throughout the duration of this 6-month residential program, several trauma-informed principles will be utilized, including safety, collaboration and mutuality, and the empowerment principle. families will also be supported throughout this transition with the cultivation of independent living skills through the continued development and active collaboration when creating care plans. Staff will ensure safety precautions are taken to ensure the residential location will be secured. Collaboration and mutuality, along with empowerment will be fostered through shared decision-making when creating care plans with staff, eliminating the potential for a power dynamic. The CDC Social-Ecological Model will also be used as a framework to prevent and reduce opioid use, addressing this issue at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels (CDC, 2022). At the individual level, clinical and social counseling services will be provided directly to the individual facing opioid misuse issues (CDC, 2022). At the interpersonal level, the family-focused program centers around interpersonal relationships, working to address any conflict to re-establish the individual's support system before the end of the program (CDC, 2022). At the community level, implementing trauma-informed prevention strategies throughout the Tampa Bay area will help not just individual families, but will serve the community as a whole (CDC, 2022).
This project employs a midstream public health approach – aiming to dismantle any structural barriers at an organizational level, such as addressing complex health issues that influence opioid abuse across several family units in the Tampa Bay area (PNGP, 2016). This framework mainly aligns with the tertiary prevention framework and primary prevention framework. First, this program aligns with the tertiary prevention framework because the program treats the individuals misusing opioids to improve their quality of life with a trauma-informed approach to both medical and social services (PNGP, 2016). Treatment is an important element in addressing trauma and childhood adversity, so we must continue to treat individuals with a downstream programming approach because this can improve population health (PNGP, 2016). Next, this program aligns with the primary prevention framework because the family-focused program implements a systems-level approach to improve family recovery and prevent generational trauma and opioid abuse (PNGP, 2016). By using these trauma-informed approaches to treat not only the individual but the family as well, this program can provide families with trauma-informed strategies (PNGP, 2016). These trauma-informed strategies can alleviate strained relationships and past trauma while simultaneously enhancing protective factors and resilience in other family members, ultimately working to prevent opioid abuse in other generations.
Throughout this program, staff members aim to heal and address past and current traumatic experiences to reduce and prevent opioid use and opioid-related deaths, and further childhood adversity within their families.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...ecologicalmodel.html
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare. (n.d.). Family-Centered Approach Modules. SAMHSA | National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW). Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/topi...ntered-approach.aspx
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia (2016). Trauma Informed Philanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley.
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