Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) teaches family and friends effective strategies for helping their loved one to change. Not only does it offer effective strategies for the individual suffering from Substance Use Disorder, it also assists the loved ones in feeling better themselves. CRAFT works to affect the loved one’s behavior by changing the way the family interacts with him or her. It is designed to accomplish three goals:
- When a loved one is using substances and is declining help, CRAFT aids families to connect loved ones to recovery support services.
- CRAFT helps reduce the loved one’s substance use, whether or not the loved one has engaged in treatment yet by embracing harm reduction.
- CRAFT improves the lives of the concerned family and friends.
The Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) is based on the belief that environmental contingencies can play a powerful role in encouraging or discouraging substance use. Consequently, it works with the family member to change the family environment in such a way that a non-substance using lifestyle is more rewarding than one focused on using substances. Also, family members who attend the CRAFT program will benefit by becoming more independent, less depressed, anxious and angry.
CRAFT is an evidence-based family program. A family peer trained in CRAFT will meet with a family member for one (1) 50-minute session each week during a twelve (12) week period.
Free for Morris, Passaic, and Essex County Residents.
To learn more about this program, please contact our CRAFT Coordinator, Pietro Lombardo, at plombardo@mcpik.org or call (973)625-1143.