Abstract
There is general consensus that the consequences of living within an alcoholic family are serious, pervasive, and prolonged, and that early identification and intervention to forestall the devastating impact of parental alcoholism on children's adjustment are necessary. There is also agreement that the school is the most appropriate context in which to address this mental health crisis. The present paper first examines problems in identifying children from alcoholic families and of implementing programs in the schools. Then a variety of group interventions are reviewed. The vast majority of programs described in the literature represent short-term, prevention-oriented approaches. Although such programs represent a significant stride toward helping children from alcoholic homes, it is doubtful that they can meaningfully address the core issues that trouble these children. Other, more therapeutically focused group treatments are evaluated as well, but these, too, are usually quite time-limited, and may thus fail to confront the central dynamics that must be explored to truly help many children from alcoholic environments. Suggestions for how to implement more effective group treatment programs within the schools are offered.
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Dies, R.R., Burghardt, K. Group interventions for children of alcoholics: Preventionand treatment in the schools. J Child Adolesc Group Ther 1, 219–234 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00995308
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00995308