| About the Training In
1993, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment published materials titled Pregnant,
Substance-Using Women, (Treatment Improvement Protocol [TIP] series, No. 2). A
consensus panel, chaired by Janet Mitchell, wrote these materials. Simultaneously, the
Center for
Substance Abuse Treatment published Improving Treatment for Substance-Exposed
Infants, (Treatment Improvement Protocol [TIP] series, No. 5). Stephen Kandall chaired
the consensus panel producing these materials. The information, though excellent, did not
offer an avenue for
providing training to professionals and care providers. Therefore, this manual was
developed, utilizing information from Pregnant, Substance-Using Women, and Improving
Treatment for Substance-Exposed Infants as the foundation for the training materials
presented here.
In some content areas, it was necessary to provide supplemental information. Models
of Case Management for Pregnant and Parenting Addicted Women and Their Families
(1994), written by Marty Jessup and Laurie Soman, provides the body of information for
Module Six. Substance Abuse Curriculum for Obstetricians and Gynecologists (1995), published
by the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, provides supplemental information for
several of the teaching modules. It was decided that, after gaining permission from the
authors, information adopted from these two supplemental publications would be quoted
verbatim for the most part.
A Training Manual: TIPs on Assisting Service Providers to Appropriately Respond to
the Needs of the Pregnant and Substance-using Woman and Her Alcohol/Drug-exposed Infant is
written to provide training to all individuals and professionals addressing the special
needs of the pregnant and substance-using woman as well as her alcohol or alcohol/drug
exposed infant. Although the content is developed primarily for health care providers and
other service providers, care givers should be encouraged to participate in the training
as well. Those who will benefit from the information provided through this training
include:
- Health care providers
- Chemical Dependency Treatment providers
- Social workers
- Criminal justice workers
- Educators
- Foster, birth parents, and adoptive parents of alcohol and/or drug-exposed children
- Clergy
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| Trainer
Qualifications It is assumed that the trainer(s) will have ample
knowledge of prenatal substance abuse, chemical dependency treatment, case management,
provision of health care for the pregnant,
substance-using woman, and helpful interventions for the alcohol and/or drug affected
infant prior to studying the teaching outlines presented in these training
materials. Simply becoming familiar with the contents of the modules will NOT provide the
necessary foundation for
adequate coverage of the information. The nature of the subject matter dictates a
thorough, comprehensive scope of knowledge. It is recommended that this training be
co-facilitated by a health care provider and a chemical dependency treatment provider
whenever possible.
Varying teaching methods are mandated by the curriculum. A large portion of the
information is conveyed via lecture. These portions of the workshop can be taught in a
large group setting, utilizing interactive discussion as the materials are addressed.
Additionally, the curriculum offers several opportunities for participants to take part in
role play situations which allow practice of the skills taught in several of the modules.
There are experiential exercises scattered throughout the curriculum as well, offering
participants the opportunity to assess their personal beliefs and values, develop a case
management plan, and test the baseline of their knowledge regarding the subject area
covered in the module. It is recommended that the role play and experiential exercises be
conducted in small groups. Thus, the trainer(s) needs a plethora of teaching techniques in
his/her grab bag of skills.
It is also suggested that the trainer be familiar with using a camcorder. The camcorder
can be used to videotape exemplary role plays/exercises that can then be critiqued by the
large group. Taping provides an excellent learning tool for participants to make mistakes
in a safe, controlled environment, to practice skills, and to receive helpful corrective
feedback and support.
However, for this technique to be an asset to the training, it is essential that the
trainer be able to skillfully operate the camcorder, and coordinate the feedback component
of the experience, making certain that all communication is positively stated and
productive.
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| Use of the Curriculum A
Training Manual: TIPs on Assisting Service Providers to Appropriately Respond to the Needs
of the Pregnant and Substance-using Woman and Her Alcohol/Drug-exposed Infant consists
of seven teaching modules, developed to provide: 1) a comprehensive scope of information
addressing the core issues involved; 2) support materials; and 3) experiential exercises
to provide an opportunity to practice clinical skills.
It is essential that professionals and care providers be adequately trained to detect a
client's substance abuse problem and the characteristics of a child exposed in utero
to alcohol and/or drugs. It is equally important that professionals and care providers be
knowledgeable about what constitutes appropriate intervention and treatment for the needs
of the addicted pregnant woman and her alcohol or drug-exposed child. This training is
orchestrated to provide a compendium of information addressing the special needs of these
populations.
Each module represents a component of the overall scope of information. The modules
fall in deliberate order, offering the trainer a range of information within the content
addressed in each module. A teaching outline is provided to suggest a guide through the
information.
Supplemental materials accompany several of the modules, and experiential exercises
play a major role in assisting participant acquisition of fundamental intervention
techniques. Overheads are provided for each module, incorporating the information
presented in the teaching outline. Accompanying handouts reinforce the materials and guide
participants through practice exercises.
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| Recommended
Readings and References Recommended readings are listed at the end of
each module description. The facilitator is encouraged to review the readings in
preparation for teaching each session.
At the start of the training, participants will be given a copy of Pregnant,
Substance-Using Women, (Treatment Improvement Protocol [TIP] series, No. 2), and Improving
Treatment for Substance-Exposed Infants, (Treatment Improvement Protocol [TIP] series,
No. 5). Additional reference materials are listed at the end of each chapter/section of
TIPs No. 2 and No. 5, and can be researched by interested participants following the
training.
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