Recovery Month – throughout the month of September – spotlights the hope and recovery that exists for those struggling with addiction, and the children and families who are impacted. Hope is Real. Recovery is Real. Families can -and do- recover together. Kids and teens are so often the first hurt, and last helped, but it doesn’t have to be that way; families can recover too! Throughout the month, help share the hope that families can – and do – recover together.

One of NACoA’s most valued resources – Kits for Kids – has recently been updated! In the 2023 version Tools for Kids, children receive important information about addiction, how addiction impacts kids, what can kids do, and how can children help take care of themselves. If every child impacted by addiction in the family had access to such support, kids wouldn’t feel so isolated and alone, blaming themselves for this devastating disease.

Share this resource with caring adults in your community who touch the lives of children impacted by familial addiction today!

To Read Tools for Kids>>

The new factsheet Working with Child Protective Services to Support Pregnant and Parenting People, Their Infants, and Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders: A Factsheet for Health Care Providers accompanies the Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants publication,  is now available through SAMHSA. This new publication provides additional information about child welfare systems and what the health care provider’s role is in developing a Plan of Safe Care. These plans ensure safety and well-being of an infant with prenatal substance exposure following release from the care of a health-care provider by addressing the health and substance use treatment needs for the entire household (including parent, grandparent, roommate, etc)

Each year, Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., better known to most members as the World Service Office or WSO, gives an annual report of its activities. This includes all of the support provided to children 9 yrs and older through Alateen. The important work of the WSO – bringing help and healing to family members who have been affected by the drinking of a family member or close friend – includes acting as the worldwide clearing house, registering new groups, planning and coordinating the World Service Conference, guiding Al Anon’s public outreach efforts worldwide, preparing and distributing Conference Approved Literature. Review the summary of 2022’s activities, the 15 different ways someone can access Al-Anon meetings and support, and the 60+ languages available to access the fellowship.

Read Al-Anon’s 2022 Annual Report>>

Professionals may see adults or teens affected by someone else’s drinking. Al-Anon, a mutual support program for relative and frines of alcoholics, can help. Learn more in a free online workshop provided by District 21, NYC Upper West Side Public Outreach Committee.

To Register>>

One year after the initial rollout of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its 988 Lifeline partners announced the addition of Spanish text and chat services. The 988 Lifeline is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis, and to date, the Administration has invested nearly $1 billion into this life-saving initiative. This investment is driving an increase in calls, texts and chats, with nearly 5 million contacts answered in the past year — and helped millions of people in crisis.

Un año después del lanzamiento inicial de 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS) de EE. UU. y sus socios de 988 Lifeline anunciaron la incorporación de servicios de chat y mensajes de texto en español. El 988 Lifeline es parte de la estrategia integral de la Administración Biden-Harris para abordar la crisis de salud mental del país y, hasta la fecha, la Administración ha invertido casi mil millones de dólares en esta iniciativa que salva vidas. Esta inversión está impulsando un aumento de llamadas, mensajes de texto y chats, con casi 5 millones de contactos respondidos el año pasado y ayudó a millones de personas en crisis.

Learn More in Spanish>>

Child Mind Institute has prepared Best Children’s Books About Mental Health, a list of 77 children’s books to help kids understand emotional and learning challenges for caring adults who want to support children. Reading a story creates the ability for kids to imagine themselves inside the story. This allows them to develop empathy as they experience the lives of other characters and can identify with how they are feeling. Important categories include: abuse, anxiety, bullying, depression, feelings, grief & loss, and trauma.

Visit the Best Children’s Books About Mental Health List>>

Contact Us:

nacoa@nacoa.org |301.468.0985

National Association For Children of Addiction

615 Baltimore Pike, STE H #1158
Bel Air, Maryland, 21014