Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc | 2021
Promoting resilience for children of parents with opioid use disorder: A pilot study of a directed intervention.
Abstract
PROBLEM\nHaving a parent with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a childhood adverse experience (ACE), magnified by other accompanying ACEs. Outcomes for these children tend to include developing mental illness and/or Substance Use Disorders themselves. Few studies address these children s experiences and needs. Without child-focused interventions to foster their resilience, generational ramifications of the OUD crisis will persist.\n\n\nMETHODS\nNine children (ages 12-17), in Department of Social Services custody, participated in this pilot study. The intervention delivered was Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration s Children s Program Kit (CPK): Supportive Education for Children of Addicted Parents. Measures included OUD knowledge pre/posttests and the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS-2).\n\n\nFINDINGS\nFindings from paired-samples t tests showed a significant increase in youth OUD knowledge from pre to posttest. Affective strength on the parent version (foster parent or social worker s perception of participant) and overall strength index on the youth s version BERS-2 increased significantly from pre to posttest. Career strength, a separate strength index, showed significant increased scores on both youth and parent BERS-2 versions pre to posttest.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nResults support Psychiatric Mental Health nurses to lead development and implementation of interventions, such as the CPK, with a strength-based approach to promote the knowledge and resilience of these children.