Maryland Parents and Caregivers Can Now Access Free Substance Use Intervention Training in English or Spanish

Maryland FYI, a program dedicated to supporting families dealing with substance use issues, has announced the expansion of its Parent CRAFT online course to be accessible for English and Spanish-speaking caregivers. This free, self-paced video program equips parents and other concerned individuals with practical strategies to help young people struggling with substance misuse. The initiative aims to provide crucial support to families across Maryland, offering valuable skills at no cost to the user.

The Parent CRAFT course is designed to be an engaging and comprehensive resource. It guides parents through understanding the factors that contribute to a young person’s substance use, including triggers and long-term consequences. A significant portion of the training focuses on developing effective communication skills, teaching participants how to discuss concerns about drug use constructively. This includes techniques for using understanding statements, accepting shared responsibility, and providing specific examples of observed behaviors.

Furthermore, the program emphasizes the power of positive reinforcement in influencing behavior change and advocates for allowing natural consequences to occur by discouraging enabling behaviors. The ultimate goal of Parent CRAFT is to empower caregivers to effectively guide young people toward seeking professional help when necessary. Each section of the course is designed to build upon previously learned skills, with the video content for each section being less than an hour long. Participants are encouraged to complete the sections over several weeks, allowing ample time to practice the newly acquired skills before progressing.

The accessibility of Parent CRAFT for Spanish-speaking families represents a significant step in reaching a broader audience within Maryland. While the course videos are presented in English, comprehensive Spanish closed captioning is now available. Additionally, the course registration page has been equipped with Google Translate functionality, allowing users to select Spanish as their preferred language by scrolling to the bottom of the page.

This valuable resource is made available free of charge to all Maryland parents and caregivers, representing a significant saving of $200 per user. Maryland FYI is a collaborative effort involving the State of Maryland, the Department of Health, the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), and the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH). The program is funded by SAMHSA as part of the Maryland State Opioid Response initiative.

The program can be accessed through the website.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Maryland FYI

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