What support looks like at Parents Forever

At Parents Forever we know what you’re going through. We are all at different stages of the journey. Many of us have been addressing substance use or mental health concerns with our loved ones for many years. Some of us are just starting. Others of us are somewhere in between.

We know the work is challenging. And we appreciate that it can take an emotional, physical, spiritual and financial toll on you.

We demonstrate support in two ways: emotional and practical.

Emotional support

As parents, family members and caregivers you often arrive at your first group meeting in deep crisis. You know that everything you’ve been doing up to now isn’t working. You no longer recognize your loved one. You can’t reason with them or have a conversation.

You may be overwhelmed, feel guilty or out of control, helpless, worried and alone.

At Parents Forever you’re in the company of people who:

• get what you’re going through

• offer encouragement

• don’t judge or blame

• share hugs and shoulders to cry on

• have reasonable hope that change is possible.

When you leave your first meeting you'll know you're not alone. You’re accepted and understood.

Practical support

When members are ready to start working on some of the difficult day-to-day issues, Parents Forever offers tools and strategies aimed at improving your quality of life. We believe education is the most powerful asset we have.

Our aim is to teach members:

• how to regain control of your lives

• to stay connected with your loved ones

• to be strong resilient and ever hopeful without expectation

A few examples of help you can use include:

EXPERT FACILITATION 

Frances Kenny founded Parents Forever in 2000 based on her lived experience with an adolescent son using substances. Her decades of work, insight and compassion are highly regarded in the social services community and by the thousands of people who have attended Parents Forever. Fran runs the weekly meetings and also offers one-on-one sessions by request. Over the years she has developed a wide range of written materials and shares a broad network of pertinent and up-to-date resources in the community

THE WISDOM OF THE GROUP  

We are often each other’s best inspiration. Our weekly discussions are a rich source of ideas and insight

PROBLEM-SOLVING

The second half of our weekly meetings is usually devoted to specific issues and problems raised by members. The range of concerns and problems gives perspective and awareness to our different circumstances

TIP SHEETS ON COPING  

Based on discussions of various topics at our weekly meetings these documents cover topics like communication, self-care, resiliency, siblings, boundaries, and more. Members consult these tip sheets on a regular basis

SUCCESSES 

We discuss and share our joys and wins – tangible things we’ve done for ourselves and small victories by and for our loved ones

REASONABLE HOPE 

We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic. Nor do we have expectations. We make realistic assessments about our situation and that of our loved ones. We do our best – for ourselves and our loved ones

THE 4 Cs

1. We did not cause the substance use problem.

2. We cannot control the substance use or drinking.

3. We cannot change our loved one’s substance use or drinking.

4. We can learn to cope.