Our Moving Parents and Children Together Programme (M-PACT) is a whole family, structured brief intervention which aims to improve the well-being of children and families affected by substance misuse.
There is evidence that M-PACT targets some of the individual and familial protective factors which are known to build resilience in families
affected by difficulties such as parental substance misuse. Many of the families who have participated in M-PACT have been living with substance use problems for many years. In addition to suffering the effects of addiction, many have also experienced other difficulties such as offending, violence, abuse and/or mental health difficulties, and this relatively brief intervention is able to produce significantly positive changes for many families, even those with multiple and complex needs.
The M-PACT programme is delivered under licence by facilitators who are trained by experts from Action on Addiction. The training is accredited by the University of Bath. M-PACT brings together a small number of families who work together over 10 sessions. The first M-PACT programme was delivered in 2006. By the end of 2018, 446 practitioners had been trained. M-PACT programmes have been delivered to over 2,500 individual participants representing 700 families in around 50 locations across the UK, including at community, prison and school-based sites.
Young M-PACT participant
Statistical analysis shows that family members attending M-PACT programmes reported improvements in global family functioning, how family members viewed the severity of the problem, and how they coped with life's challenges. A social return on investment analysis, applied to five M-PACT sites, found that for every £1 spent, M-PACT can save up to £6.53 in the first year after a family has completed the programme.
Family members attending M-PACT programmes reported multiple improvements.
For every £1 spent, M-PACT can save up to £6.53.
This relatively brief intervention is able to produce significantly positive changes for many families,
even those with multiple and complex needs.
Contact our family counsellors to find the nearest M-PACT provider in your area.