Child and Family Services

The philosophy at Meta House serves the goal of supporting children, teaching parenting, rebuilding and strengthening families, and breaking the cycle of intergenerational substance abuse. Meta House gives priority to pregnant, postpartum and parenting women and is one of the only treatment centers in the state that allows children to live with their mothers in the residential treatment and housing programs and to receive intervention services. Recognizing the essential work of prevention, Meta House has implemented an adolescent/teen program that aims to empower the children of Meta House clients to make positive choices. Meta House coordinates child and family care with a number of agencies and provides intensive services to mothers, children and families.


Child and Family Services work to ensure that:

The Mothers

• Learn essential skills and knowledge about parenting, child development and nutrition;

• Learn to re-parent themselves and heal from traumatic childhoods.
  

The Children

• Are learning to ask for what they need appropriately and know they will be heard;

• Trust that parents will hear needs and meet needs.
  

The Families

• Develop, rebuild and strengthen bonds broken by substance abuse.
  

Service Components

• Parenting education and coaching, and child development classes

• Individual sessions and in-home visits

• “Mom and Me”- facilitated interaction between parent and child

• Individual/family/play therapy and mental health treatment

• Birth to 10 developmental screenings

• Child care provided

• Adolescent/Teen prevention empowerment group

• Filial therapy- teaches parents to practice child-centered play therapy techniques with the goal of strengthening relationships

• Nurturing care program/classes- focuses on teaching parents to be sensitive/aware of children’s emotional needs. Confronts family history and trauma

• Substance abuse prevention and awareness classes for families and children

• Family activities and outings

• Family reunification services

• Pre-natal and post-natal care coordination

• Social skill-building and cultural development

• Nutrition, living and health skills training