Being a Parent In Recovery

“Being a Parent In Recovery“ will be presented on Tuesday November 26, 2019; 7:30pm-9:00pm, by Mary Jo Desprez, MA; Director, Wolverine Wellness, University Health Service (UHS,) University of Michigan; and Amber Horwitz, B.S., MSW candidate and Founder Proud Parents of Loss. The entire family unit is profoundly affected by the active addiction of a parent, often through generations. The challenges and healing that go along with recovery of a family member also exert a profound influence in the immediate family and in future generations. During the active addiction of a parent, children may assume unhealthy roles and behaviors, and parents in early recovery may need to develop new parenting knowledge, skills and confidence to prepare them to help their children, rebuild damaged relationships and reestablish trust. Parenting can be challenging under any circumstances; parents in recovery from substance use disorders face additional challenges in balancing the work of recovery with the responsibilities of parenting, and with healing damages accrued during active addiction. Working a strong program of recovery may be the first and most important parenting skill required; parents in recovery can also learn and adopt parenting skills that fit their own parenting style and will help them and their families along their personal and family recovery journeys. This presentation will discuss the importance of maintaining a strong recovery program while parenting; explore “parenting skills 2.0” that can help recovering people to be strong, capable parents; and include a panel discussion by parents in recovery from substance use disorders. This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual education series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about substance use disorders, recovery, family and related issues; and to dispel the myths, misinformation, secrecy, shame and stigma that prevent people with addiction and their families from getting help and getting well.  All programs are free and open to anyone interested.  Registration is not required. 1.5 hours of free C.E. approved by MCBAP (Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals) is provided. A certificate to document attendance is provided on request. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of services for people with substance use disorders. For information, please contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or [email protected], or see http://www.dawnfarmeducation.org.
Location: St. Joseph Mercy Michigan Heart and Vascular Institute auditorium, 5325 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti Michigan 48197.