We believe families are an important resource for those with drug and alcohol issues and a vital force for positive change.

FDS defines family members as essentially ‘anyone who cares’. This includes immediate family members and relatives’ through to close friends and other key people.

Just like drug users go through a ‘cycle of change’ as identified by Prochaska and DiClemente - families too, go through a parallel process.

We have identified these stages as Denial, Emotion, Control, Chaos and Coping. (for more information see the FDS resource ‘A Guide to Coping’)

‘Bridging the Divide’ is a flexible program designed to create effective partnerships with treatment services.

Each treatment service will have differing levels of involvement depending on factors such as needs, strategy and capacity.

A Family Drug Support representative in your area will discuss the following range of FDS support services and tailor a program that best serves the needs of your organisation:

• In-service training sessions/ workshops on how to work effectively with families.
• In-service sessions to discuss and align treatment expectations for families.
• Dedicated 1300 support number for both treatment staff and families with members in treatment.
• Regular support group meetings.
• Stepping Stones to Success courses.
• Provide ways to enable treatment clients to re-connect with family and friends.
• Comprehensive staff training pathways to achieve any or all of the above.

The goals of Family Drug Support ‘Bridging the Divide’ program are to:

• Work collaboratively with treatment services.
• Up skill treatment staff in family support needs.
• Provide more pathways to support families with members in treatment.
• Provide families with realistic expectations of treatment.
• Support families and those in treatment towards successful outcomes.
• Increase capacity of treatment services to engage with families