Westminster, MD, February 13, 2020 – While many programs and services have been expanded to help individuals with substance use disorders, there are not as many resources for affected families. The Carroll County Health Department and Carroll County Commissioners are pleased to jointly announce a new support group in Carroll County for families impacted by substance use disorder.

Families Strong is the first support group of its kind in Maryland, according to Dawn Brown, Lead Senior Behavioral Health Consultant at Mosaic Group, the management consulting firm that is helping to organize and promote Families Strong in Carroll County and other nearby counties. Funded by Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center, it fills a gap in services and helps families practice self-care techniques, learn strategies for interacting with their loved ones, and build social support.

“Families Strong was adapted from an evidence-based, professionally-led model to a peer-led model,” said Brown, “By incorporating peer leaders, the program will be more sustainable and participants will be guided by someone who has walked in their shoes.”

The 9-week program is open to just 12 people, so they can get to know each other and feel comfortable sharing their experiences. The group will meet weekly from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Carroll Hospital’s East Pavilion starting on February 25th, and will follow a guided curriculum that includes positive self-talk and self-care, how to prepare for family changes, and how to support a loved one in treatment. The group will be co-facilitated by two peer leaders who have been impacted by substance use disorder in their own families.

Registration for Families Strong is required. Learn more or sign up at https://www.addictionpolicy.org/families-strong-learn-more or contact Dawn Brown at 443-525-1976 or dbrown@groupmosaic.com.

“The goals of Families Strong are to minimize the negative effects of a person’s substance abuse on their family and friends, to improve communication and help the person with substance abuse get into treatment,” said Brown. “We really feel this new resource will be invaluable in helping strengthen families to support each other and their loved ones.”

The Opioid Operational Command Center was established by Executive Order [01.01.2017.01] as part of the Hogan Administration’s 2017 Heroin and Opioid Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement Initiative. Carroll County’s efforts and applications for funding are coordinated by the Opioid Senior Policy Group, chaired by Carroll County Health Officer Ed Singer and Carroll County Emergency Manager Valerie Hawkins, with representatives from local and state government, Carroll Hospital, and many other county agencies.

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Dawn Brown, Mosaic Group, dbrown@groupmosaic.com, 443-525-1976

Side bar:

What: Families Strong support group for families impacted by substance use disorder

When: 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays, from February 25th – April 21st

Where: Carroll Hospital, East Pavilion

To register: https://www.addictionpolicy.org/families-strong-learn-more