Children’s Program Kit; Supportive Education for Children of Addictive Parents was prepared by EEI Communications under a contract with the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Many individuals are listed as having contributed to the development of the materials.

Charles G. Currie, Administrator of SAMHSA (www.samhsa.gov), writes in the “Foreword” that children of substance abusing parents may be predisposed to behavioral problems or to abusing alcohol or illegal drugs. He states that these children are at a higher-than-average risk for problems in school and in social relationships.

The materials in the kit are designed to provide professionals and programs with the tools and resources to help the children of their clients. The goals of the materials, which are developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive, are to:

• Provide messages to the children that they are not alone and that they are not the cause of their parents alcohol/drug problem

• Provide skills and strategies to assist the children to be safe and resilient

• Help the children to build on their strengths

• Assist the parents to understand their children’s needs and to use supportive services

The kit contains a curriculum notebook, video #1: “Pepper and You’re Not Alone,” video #2: “Michael’s Journey,” video #3: “End Broken Promises, Mend Broken Hearts,” a counter card and poster, and forms, letters, and handouts on a diskette.

For a free copy of the Children’s Program Kit, call SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686 or 1-800-487-4889 (TDD).