Earlier this month Public Health England (PHE) announced nine projects that have been awarded funding as part of the innovation fund to support local authorities seeking to address the needs of children of dependent drinkers.
New guidance for local authorities on safeguarding children with alcohol and drug dependent parents has also been released, as well as a new round of capital funding to improve access to alcohol treatment in the community.
The nine innovation fund projects were chosen for 'demonstrating a new and creative approach to reach and support families whose lives have been affected by alcohol', suggesting a broadening of the focus beyond just children of dependent parents. The £4.5 million of funding was made available following campaigning by a number of high profile MPs who had spoken openly about their experiences as 'children of alcoholics', launching a manifesto for action in 2017. It also includes £500,000 to expand helplines for children as previously pledged.
Brief details of each of the nine projects are highlighted including activities such as parenting programmes, pre-birth support to high-risk families, support for alcohol dependant parents leaving prison and programmes to improve training and early identification. Local media reports provided some extra detail for projects in Portsmouth, Swindon and Haringey, whilst the large drug and alcohol service provider CGL announced its role in three of the projects.
PHE estimates there are 200,000 children in England living with 120,000 parents who have alcohol problems, whilst 16,000 adults were receiving alcohol treatment living with children, and a further 18,000 who are parents but not currently living with their children. PHE state 82% of children with parents receiving alcohol treatment weren’t receiving support from children’s social care, whilst analysis of serious case reviews (where a child was seriously hurt or killed) found 37% recorded alcohol as a contributing factor.
Whilst most would no doubt be in favour of the funding, others have raised questions over the wider context of wider cuts to drug and alcohol services of £105 million since 2012/13, termed a "crisis" by Alcohol Change UK. As such, some have commented that the "Government is choosing to address the (admittedly very tragic) symptoms of the problem of alcohol dependence, not the problem itself (via funding for treatment services) or the causes of the problem". Others have pointed out that given the fund received 68 applications, this presumably left 59 areas receiving no help to an identified problem.
What next for parental alcohol misuse?
Many will hope the funded projects will be able to demonstrate positive outcomes and share important lessons for other areas hoping to reduce the impact of alcohol problems and families. Earlier this year a briefing on Parental Alcohol Misuse (PAM) was released exploring the available evidence on PAM as 'a spectrum of problem drinking by those with parental responsibility for children', identifying the wide range of negative impacts but the limited availability of evidence in effective responses.
Last year the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) released a report on the effects of drinking amongst non-dependent parents warning that 'parents do not have to regularly drink large amounts of alcohol for their children to notice changes in their behaviour and experience negative impacts', offering guidance for parents and policy makers.
Indeed many alcohol campaigners may feel that whilst such projects are important, what many consider weak national alcohol policy is failing to prevent many such harms from developing in the first instance. Such groups have called upon the government to take an evidence first approach to its new national strategy expected next year. Indications suggest hopes for firmer action on key fought issues such as minimum pricing may be rather optimistic, with a continued focus on local action, personal responsibility and industry self-regulation looking more likely.
See here for information and support for children worried about their parent's drinking.
Comments