Program Goals
The Engaging Moms Program (EMP) is a gender-specific, family-based intervention designed to help substance-abusing mothers participating in family drug court to maintain their parental rights. The program is designed to support mothers succeed in family drug court by helping them comply with all court orders, attend court sessions, remain drug-free, and demonstrate the capacity to parent their children.
Program Components/Program Theory
EMP was created using the theory and method of Multidimensional Family Therapy (Liddle, Dakof, and Diamond 1991). The program was initially developed to facilitate treatment entry and retention for mothers of substance-exposed infants, but was adapted for use in family drug court. EMP’s program theory maintains that change in six core areas is essential for drug-using mothers to achieve sobriety and adequately care for their children. These six core areas of change include
- The mother’s motivation and commitment to succeed in drug court and to change her life
- The emotional attachment between the mother and her children
- Relationships between the mother and her family
- Parenting skills
- The mother’s romantic relationships
- Emotional regulation, problem-solving, and communication skills
To help mothers achieve change in these core areas, EMP counselors hold integrated individual and family sessions with the mother and her family (e.g., individual sessions with the mother, individual sessions with her family/partner, and family and couples sessions). The EMP intervention is organized into three stages.
Stage 1. Alliance and Motivation. During the first stage, EMP counselors focus on 1) building a strong therapeutic relationship with the mother and her family, and 2) enhancing the motivation of the mother and her family to participate in family drug court and to change. Counselors provide support to the mother and her family by highlighting strengths and competence, building confidence in the program, offering compassion, and maintaining a nurturing attitude throughout. Counselors enhance motivation by highlighting the pain, guilt, and shame that the mother and her family have experienced and the high stakes involved (such as losing a child to the child welfare system), while at the same time creating positive expectations and hope.
Stage 2. Behavioral Change. The second stage focuses on the behavioral change of the mother and her family/spouse. Counselors begin by trying to enhance the emotional attachment between the mother and her children by working individually with the mother to help her explore her maternal role. The mother-and-children sessions are also designed to enhance the mother’s commitment to her children. In addition, counselors focus on enhancing the attachment between the mother and her family and/or spouse. They work on helping the family restrain from negativity and instead offer instrumental and emotional support to the mother. Significant attention is devoted to repairing the mother’s relationship with her family, which may have been damaged by past hurts, betrayals, and resentments.
The sessions address romantic relationships, typically with men, which are often a source of pain and distress for many mothers involved in the child welfare system. Mothers in the program work with a counselor to conduct a relationship life review, which includes examining tensions between having a romantic relationship and being a mother. The counselor helps the mother examine the choices she has made with regard to romantic relationships and teaches her how to make better decisions for herself and her children. Counselors also help the mother deal with any slips, mistakes, setbacks, or relapses in a nonpunitive and therapeutic manner.
Finally, EMP counselors facilitate the mother’s relationship with treatment/service providers and drug court personnel, including the judge, child welfare workers, and attorneys. Counselors conduct “shuttle diplomacy” between the mother and service providers, which is designed to prevent and resolve any problems and allow the mother to make the most use of the services being provided to her. In addition, counselors facilitate the therapeutic jurisprudence in the courtroom by preparing mothers for court appearances and advocating for the mother in front of the judge and during weekly drug court case reviews.
Stage 3. Launch to an Independent Life. In the final stage of the program, EMP counselors work with the mother to prepare her for an independent life. This includes developing a practical and workable routine for everyday life; addressing how the mother will balance self-care, children, and work; outlining a plan to address common emergencies with children and families; and addressing how the mother will deal with potential problems, mistakes, slips, and relapses.