The focus of the 5-year Women and Children Project is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment services provided to substance abusing women and their dependent children at the Salvation Army's First Choice Program in Fort Worth. Women who enter this 12-month residential program live with their children in small apartments on the First Choice campus and participate in a comprehensive treatment program. They receive individual, group, and family therapy, special assistance in relapse prevention, nutrition, and vocational training, and are connected with a variety of local agencies designed to assist them in securing housing, employment, and health care following graduation from the program. Children also receive special services and are integrated into the treatment program through special activities, play therapy, and family therapy.
Child care is provided for children younger than school age.
The research goals of the Women and Children Project are to evaluate the services provided by the agency and examine individual, family, and treatment-related factors that impact substance abuse problems and facilitate recovery. To accomplish these goals, a variety of data collection instruments are administered at intake, regular intervals during treatment, and follow-up conducted at 6 and 12 months after discharge. Evaluation of treatment services includes documenting the type and intensity of services received by women and children, evaluating the effectiveness of several specialized interventions, including a newly developed IBR module entitled Partners in Parenting . Examination of factors relating to substance abuse and recovery is being conducted in three phases. Phase 1 focuses primarily on collecting information concerning the unique characteristics and needs of the sample.