One of every four children in the United States has a parent wrestling with drug or alcohol addiction, based on national data, and is at risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life.
To begin to break that cycle and give adults in those kids’ lives the tools to make a difference, West Virginia University’s Project TRAIN has expanded its program, originally focused on helping K-12 teachers support students affected by addiction, to youth camps statewide.
TRAIN gives camp staff an overview of addiction as a disease, including signs and symptoms, and involves them in discussions about how stigma affects people with addiction as well as their families.
Staffers learn common ways children adapt to caregivers’ addictions, combined with specific scripts for important conversations and practical advice for supporting kids.
Frankie Tack , Jessica Troilo and Lauren Prinzo’s Project TRAIN – Teacher Resources for Addiction Impact Now – launched with $486,819 in funding from Westat. The program builds on surveys conducted with roughly 2,500 teachers and 100 youth camp staffers and has now trained approximately 500 teachers to support children affected by caregivers’ substance use disorders. Through cross-county Extension partnerships, TRAIN’s coverage extends to at least 35 counties in West Virginia.
Read the full story here on WVUToday.