National Children of Alcoholics Week is February 8-14, 2009. This annual, national observance recognizes the damaging effects of alcoholism on children. Often, the people hurt most by alcohol abuse don’t even drink. They are the children of alcoholics. The 2009 campaign theme is “A Celebration of Hope and Healing.”
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA) mission is to educate the public and raise awareness about the hardships suffered by children living in households with one or more parents who drink. Children of alcoholics can be encouraged and supported to seek out help and that they can and should have access to caring adults who are able to provide that help. Children of alcoholics and other drug dependent parents need to understand that addiction is a disease and that it’s not their fault.
Here are some tips from NACoA on how you can make a difference during Children of Alcoholics Week 2009, including:
- Speak out as an organization and as an individual.
- Ask Churches and Other Faith-Based Organizations to join in Children of Alcoholics Week.
- Help your local schools, treatment programs and faith communities become acquainted with SAMHSA’s free Children’s Program Kit
SAMHSA also offers many related resources, including the brochures, “It’s Not Your Fault.” And “It Feels So Bad. It Doesn’t Have To.”
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