Family centred alcohol and other drug treatment: Our work with Pinangba
May 2024
Families and communities can play an integral role in supporting people with alcohol and other drug use problems, supporting people with treatment retention, meeting treatment goals, and maintaining positive outcomes. But alcohol and other drug treatment typically focuses on the individual, with variable levels of engagement with families and communities.
Recently, our Principal Consultant Dr Katinka van de Ven worked with Pinangba on a research project funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission that looked at how involving family members as a central part of alcohol and other drug treatment promotes positive outcomes for people accessing treatment.
Pinangba runs two Indigenous-led alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services in Queensland that deliver family centred alcohol and other drug treatment. The Stagpole Street Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit accepts individuals, while the Cape York Family Centre accepts the whole family unit.
Pinangba delivers alcohol and other drug treatment that is informed by First Nations concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, where connections to culture, family, community, and land are central.
Both services place the involvement of families at the front and centre of the treatment approach. Instead of just looking at the individual accessing treatment, Pinangba views the person as a whole, including their family and community connections, relationships, and support networks.
Taking this holistic approach paints a much clearer picture of the important factors that may be affecting someone’s situation which are often overlooked. This approach to treatment helps people stay engaged in treatment and stay abstinent, while also positively impacting family functioning.
The project team collaborated with people attending the service and staff to develop and implement a client experience survey and a client outcome survey which have now been embedded at both Pinangba services.
Pinangba’s family centric approach appears to successfully support people in their treatment journey, with initial results suggesting promising outcomes in enhancing health and wellbeing. It also shows positive results in terms of people’s experiences with accessing and engaging with both Pinangba services.
“On a service level, it was good to see the positive impacts of the family approach for clients. The results showed that what we’re delivering as a service is what clients need to achieve their rehabilitation goals.” —Erin Cunningham, service manager
Importantly, building the research capacity of the Pinangba services was at the heart of this project. Staff were trained in the research methods, how to develop and implement outcome monitoring processes, and how to analyse data on a client and organisational level.
Building the research capacity of First Nations services is key in strengthening the evidence base around what works for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to empower services in evaluating their own performance.
Continuous evaluation will ensure that Pinangba's services remain effective in delivering quality care and enhancing the outcomes of their clients.
How we can help
Service and workforce improvement can be challenging. The real world is messy, but working on the frontline you need clear practical solutions that work.
We provide practical tailored solutions for any service who works with people who use drugs. We support better responses to alcohol and other drug issues in mental health, primary care, welfare, justice and education sectors, as well as the specialist alcohol and other drug sector. Learn more about how 360Edge can help your service.
Are you interested building your skills in responding to alcohol and other drugs? Check out our diverse range of clinical practice workshops.
