Insightful Families
An Innovation Fund project January 2019 – March 2021
Understanding the impact of parental alcohol use on children and others
Insightful Families is a new service to support whole family approaches to understanding the impact of parental alcohol use on children and others.
Many children in Haringey are growing up in families where levels of alcohol use are adversely affecting them. These children may be struggling at school, having to take on a carer role within the family or cannot form friendships for fear their friends will find out what is happening at home.
Alcohol use isn’t something families like to admit to or talk about, help is often only available for the family member that is drinking and the children’s experiences are often ignored.
Insightful families works with Haringey families impacted by family alcohol use, underpinned by work to improve the lives and wellbeing of children. The project is focused on strengthening resilience, family cohesion and well being in the community and home.
Conferences| Referrals| Current activities| Training
Referrals to the project can lead to families having access to:
- Information and advice around alcohol use
- Family activities
- Parenting workshops
- Parent and toddler group
- 121 support for families and individual family members
- Advocacy and signposting
- Family, friends and carers group
- In school programme
- Peer support training
- Opportunities to volunteer work with peers and earn time credits
Alcohol dependency
In Haringey, an estimated 73% of alcohol dependent adults living with children do not access treatment and available help.
Public Health England estimates (June 2018) indicate that in Haringey, an estimated 397 of 546 adults with an alcohol dependency are not in treatment. Nearly 1 in 3 adults are affected by a relative’s drug use. 1, 000,000 children are affected by parental alcohol use.
Zina Etheridge, Haringey Council’s Chief Executive, said:
Alcohol dependence can have a damaging and long-lasting effect on families – not just the parents but their children too. This vital funding will help us to work across the community to create practical, easily accessible help and support that will genuinely meet our families’ needs.
Additional information
This is one of nine projects chosen from 69 applications to receive the three-year grant.
This bid was led in partnership across council directorates by Haringey Public Health and supported by NHS Haringey Clinical Commissioning Group and Bridge Renewal Trust, Haringey Council’s strategic voluntary sector partner.
The Innovation Fund project is jointly funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department of Work and Pensions.