Evaluation of Family Needs for Homeless Addicted Clients According to the Family Systems Model

Evaluation of Family Needs for Homeless Addicted Clients According to the Family Systems Model

Greeno et al.’s article focuses on the issue of housing instability and the prevalence of substance use among former and current foster youths. In the article, the authors claim that there is an increased vulnerability for the use of drugs and alcohol among former foster youth, and this vulnerability is enhanced by a childhood history of maltreatment such as exposure to trauma, parental drug and alcohol use as well as mental illness and abuse (Greeno et al., 2019). Substance usage is enhanced by housing instability and homelessness. Homeless youths tend to make use of drugs to numb or cope with the experiences of homelessness, and their rate of abusing drugs and alcohol is 2 to 3 times higher than youths and young adults who are not homeless (Greeno et al., 2019). Independence preparation, in which the youth in foster care are taught life skills upon exiting foster care, particularly in relation to substance use, is said to be linked to reduced substance use. Some of the needs or challenges faced by youth as they transition from foster care include pressure to be self-reliant, housing and financial instability, and loss of social support (Greeno et al., 2019). For LGBTQ youth, there is an increased experience of discrimination and social stigma, which heightens the risk of misuse and use of drugs, and research shows that their odds of abusing drugs are about 190 percent higher than that for heterosexual youth (Greeno et al., 2019). LGBTQ youths in foster care are particularly prone to discrimination and stigma, as well as several child welfare placements and increased periods of stay, hence increasing their vulnerability to substance misuse and use. Greeno et al. (2019) recommend the need for independence preparation in regard to substance use and other life skills that can help current youth in foster care as they transition into the outside world.

Some of the obstacles to providing stable housing to homeless clients who are in addiction treatment programs are the probability of relapse or continued use of drugs, lack of skill set that can be used once they have stable housing, poor educational achievement, and mental health, which could impede the application of the independent living skills. According to Malte, Cox, and Saxon (2019), the use of drugs among homeless addicts has been associated with a potential return to homelessness even after a successful housing placement. Stimulant users, as well as high-frequency drug and alcohol users in residential treatment, usually have worse housing outcomes. Emancipation from foster care or from homelessness to stable housing is a big step. Failing to offer independent training for living skills coupled with poor educational attainment and mental health is likely to impede the application of independent life skills that could be used to ensure stable housing.

Training in life skills that address basic and practical deficits that involve independent functioning in daily living is said to have the probability of promoting housing stability among homeless individuals in addiction treatment programs (Malte, Cox & Saxon, 2017). Furthermore, Greeno et al. (2019) recommend independent living programs that are designed to impact important outcomes for youth, such as lessened crime rates and delinquency, educational attainment and employment as well as relationship skills to be able to facilitate proper functioning in society and increase the chances of housing stability. Malte, Cox, and Saxon (2017) propose the need for addiction/housing case management that operates from the perspective of life skills to help increase housing stability among homeless clients in addiction treatment centers since this is likely to lengthen the number of days in stable housing, lessen acute health care utilization; and improve mental health as well as substance use and functional status outcomes after the treatment.

Families that allow a family member in addiction treatment who wants to move back home have certain special needs that need to be addressed to facilitate the healing or treatment process of the client. According to Summers (2015), most families are not able to cope with the mental illness or substance use of their family members devoid of support, and when this support is not offered, the former clients might be abandoned by their families. In particular, families with an individual with substance use problems usually cut ties with the individual, and so having the individual move back home will require a higher level of support for the entire family. If the entire family is included in the treatment plan, the outcomes for the individual are improved, and this is coupled with the support that one receives from the family. Such families also need mental health needs to be able to cope with the individual member with an addiction problem. In most cases, addiction ruins the relationship between the addict and their family. Addiction is considered a family disease because it tends to cause major stress on all individuals within the family home and any other individuals close to the person. There could be major problems in communication and dealing with conflicts with the addicted family member, and this might be detrimental to the treatment process of the member. It could even trigger a relapse and worsen the relationship with the family.

Financial support is important in facilitating care for individuals with addiction problems. Such individuals might also suffer from other mental problems, hence the need for financial support required for the treatment of such an individual. Furthermore, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2014) advocates for family therapy. Integrating family therapy in the treatment of substance use is of utmost importance. Family therapy works to alter transition power to the parental figures in the family and also enhance communication and conflict resolution. Research shows that if one member of the family abuses drugs or alcohol, there is a high risk of developing substance use or abuse problems among the remaining family members (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2014). Family therapy works to enhance communication, organize the family structure, improve impetus for change, and determine accountability, thereby increasing the motivation of the family to alter its patterns of interaction and propels the family to make changes. With family therapy, self-confession, solidarity, awareness, self-esteem, and smooth re-entry into the family and community are made possible.

Some of the challenges that communities face in providing effective case management for homeless, addicted clients include high costs associated with the management of the client in terms of finding stable housing and addressing treatment needs for the addiction and also difficulty in finding programs that can incorporate homeless addicts. Homeless, addicted individuals have various needs, and finding stable housing or housing first is considered the most important issue for such individuals. The cost of financing or finding stable housing for the client could be quite high. This is particularly true for clients who have extreme drug problems since stable housing might not be beneficial to them as they have a higher probability of going back to being homeless. Furthermore, not many programs are willing to take on homeless individuals who also have addiction problems and/or mental problems (Canavan et al., 2012). This could be a major challenge to the community as they strive to find stable housing for such individuals. The cost of treatment for the addicted member could also be high, given that most homeless individuals also suffer from various health problems such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and are also at higher risk of suffering from mental health problems (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2018). Unemployment among homeless, addicted clients is also high, and therefore, employment needs are to be met to enhance stable housing.

Seeking financial support from the state and volunteer organizations could help finance the various needs of homeless, addicted clients. In particular, it is important to finance programs and services that integrate treatment services with housing services or provide a proper link that will facilitate housing needs and transportation to the treatment centers. Furthermore, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2018) suggests the need for a peer case manager in dealing with homeless, addicted clients. Peer case managers are said to have greater success in assisting homeless individuals in such areas as housing stability, psychological functioning, substance use, and employment. Since most clients believe that case managers who have experienced homelessness have a higher likelihood of providing the required services, making use of such individuals could be beneficial and more economical to the community at large.

References

Canavan, R., Barry, M. M., Matanov, A., Barros, H., Gabor, E., Greacen, T.,& Priebe, S. (2012). Service provision and barriers to care for homeless people with mental health problems across 14 European capital cities. BMC Health Services Research, 12(1), 1-9.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (2014). Substance Abuse Treatment and Family Therapy. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US).

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2018). Comprehensive Case Management for Substance Abuse Treatment. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 27.) Chapter 5 – Case Management for Clients With Special Needs.

Greeno, E.J., Lee, B.R., Tuten, M., & Harburger, D. (2019). Prevalence of substance use, housing instability, and self-perceived preparation for independence among current and former foster youth. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 36(4), 409-418.

Malte, C. A., Cox, K., & Saxon, A. J. (2017). Providing intensive addiction/housing case management to homeless veterans enrolled in addiction treatment: A randomized controlled trial. Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 31(3), 231–241.

Summers, N. (2015). Fundamentals of Case Management Practice: Skills for the Human Services. Cengage Learning.

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Evaluation of Family Needs for Homeless Addicted Clients According to the Family Systems Model

Special Populations

PS450-5: Evaluate family needs according to the family systems model.

Evaluation of Family Needs for Homeless Addicted Clients According to the Family Systems Model

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