Preventive Group Interventions for Children from Substance Affected Families - A Nationwide Survey

In Germany little empirical research exists on interventions for children from substance-affected families and their regional distribution. In the course of developing and evaluating a modularized prevention program for affected children (project "Trampoline") a questionnaire study was conducted, surveying 48 institutions with outpatient programs for this target group. Results reveal that institutions mainly offer consecutive group interventions and individual counseling for children from substance-affected families. In contrast fixed-term, manualized and evidence-based programs are still scarce in Germany. Children are usually recruited via their substance-using parents in treatment centers or upon referral from a cooperating institution. Both an extension of existent cooperating networks and the use of innovative recruitment channels are recommended.