School of Social Work at UT Arlington
Family Intervention
A Program of Early Intervention for Substance-Exposed Children and Parenting and Recovery Support for Families
Substance-exposed children are placed at risk for developmental problems by a constellation of factors — poor nutrition, inadequate medical care, abuse, neglect, poor parenting/lack of appropriate neuro-developmental stimulation, passive exposure to substances of abuse, and unstable home environments.
Program Information
Program Design: The New Connections Family Intervention program is a comprehensive intervention program for young children and families who are juggling the demands of parenting and staying clean and sober at the same time. The program enrolls children age 0-5, who may be in any way affected by substance abuse, and a parent or other committed caregiver. New Connections Family Intervention services are provided by a multidisciplinary team representing developmental psychology; speech, physical and occupational therapy; chemical dependency counseling; parent education; medicine, nursing, and health education; social work; and child care.
Eligibility: New Connections Family Intervention serves children aged 0-5, who experience multiple risk factors for developmental problems related to substance exposure, i.e.: (1) Children exposed to alcohol, tobacco or other drugs prenatally; and/or (2) Children exposed after birth to an environment characterized by drug abuse. A parent or other primary caregiver must commit to attending the program with the child(ren).
Program Services: New Connections Family Intervention offers the following services:
- Developmental assessments for Children including complete developmental screenings and diagnostic services with referral to early childhood intervention and/or provision of speech therapy as indicated
- Child/parent interactive labs and playgroups to practice and reinforce parenting knowledge and skills, to encourage attachment, and to practice prescribed developmental activities
- Recovery sensitive parenting classes with a unique and motivational weave of accepted parent education and recovery support components covering child development and positive discipline
- Recovery support groups with family/female focus on maintaining recovery, problem solving, family issues, developing, and sustaining support systems
- Health education including newborn care, infant nutrition, child health needs, smoking cessation, STDs, and family planning methods
- Life skills education focusing on various topics in a brown-bag seminar format
- Therapeutic child care by experienced caregivers and paraprofessional therapists — includes verbal stimulation and individualized developmental intervention activities
- Transportation for parents and children by 15-passenger van
Program Time and Dates: New Connections Family Intervention meets twice per week for 5 hours per day for 10 weeks. Participants (parents and children) are to bring a brown bag lunch each day. The ability to commit to attendance for the entire program period is necessary prior to enrolling. A new class begins every 6 weeks. Please call for the beginning date of the next class.
Program Location: New Connections Family Intervention meets at program offices in Dallas located near Parkland Hospital at 2330 Butler Street, Suite 119.
Program Fees: The services listed above are FREE.
Please Contact: Call any New Connections Family Intervention staff member at 214-645-0919 for more information about the program or to make a referral for New Connections services. Space in the program is limited.
