Family based peer recovery services - TLC family resource center (TLC) has been meeting its mission of promoting the optimal health and development of children, youth and families in the sullivan…

Family based peer recovery services - TLC family resource center (TLC) has been meeting its mission of promoting the optimal health and development of children, youth and families in the sullivan and lower grafton county region of new hampshire for the past 30 years. The family based peer recovery services project funded by samsha will enhance TLC's constellation of home and community-based services and supports through education and programming for families that disrupts the cycle of childhood trauma, known as adverse childhood experiences (aces), and substance use disorder (SUD). Through a multigeneration approach that includes early aces screenings for children, substance use screening for parents/caregivers, and intensive integrated services such as peer recovery, behavioral health, substance use prevention and parent education, this project will significantly improve outcomes for children and youth. The population to be served by this project includes children, youth and families living in sullivan county and the surrounding region. The region is largely rural with limited access to public services, transportation, health care, affordable housing, and childcare, which impacts the prevalence of aces and SUD. Sullivan county has the second highest childhood poverty rate in the state and some of the highest youth and adult substance use and overdose death rates in the country. The intersection between poverty, substance use, and aces requires targeted prevention and intervention strategies that address the unique needs of children, youth and adults. TLC family resource center has two primary goals for this project. The first goal is to increase parent/caregiver understanding of the impact of SUD on aces and child outcomes through evidence-based parent/caregiver education. Aces and SUD screenings will be offered to families participating in TLC's home visiting and/or recovery programs and results will be used to coordinate additional services and supports. TLC will also provide informative programs for professionals and the community through a public health education series. The second goal is to decrease substance use among parents/caregivers in the region through evidence-based primary prevention and intervention programs that focus on building protective factors and resilience. TLC will expand recovery services to offer more parents the opportunity to screen for substance use and receive additional recovery supports. TLC will also expand access to behavioral health services with a focus on treatment for children, youth and families impacted by SUD and aces. Recognizing that aces in early childhood increases the risk for youth and teen substance use, TLC will provide empowering afterschool programs for middle and high school adolescents that build positive peer connections and healthy decision-making skills to prevent substance use. Combined, these multigenerational strategies will disrupt the cycle of childhood trauma (aces) and substance use disorder for families. TLC expects to reach 300 families, including 700 children, and approximately 60 middle and high school aged youth during the first year of this project. TLC is founded on a peer-based model and clients who complete the program often become volunteer leaders who assist with promoting and role modeling strategies that build protective factors and improve outcomes for children. Together, we are building stronger, healthier communities where people can thrive.