CLFC & Recovery

The original Creating Lasting Family Connections® (CLFC) curriculum is nationally recognized as a highly-effective, evidence-based substance abuse prevention program. Listed on the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP), this original version was specifically adapted by the curriculum developer, Ted N. Strader, to serve men and women recovering from alcohol and other drugs.

CLFC Teaches Effective Skills for Men and Women Recovering from Substance Abuse

  • CLFC promotes communication and refusal skills for resisting negative influences.
  • CLFC promotes emotional awareness and expression skills so that recovering men and women can process emotions that might have previously hindered their sobriety and possibly triggered relapse.
  • CLFC promotes relationship and family strengthening skills so that recovering men and women can develop a deep and wide network of positive support for their recovery.
  • CLFC promotes self-efficacy, and nurtures personal and family trust and openness so that participants are more likely to reach out for help with personal and family issues.

CLFC Producing Powerful Results for Men and Women in Recovery

In two quasi-experimental research studies with comparison groups conducted by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) and McGuire & Associates, the adapted version of CLFC achieved the following statistically significant improvements:

  • Increased knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (i.e. HIV, Hepatitis)
  • Increased spirituality
  • Reduced intentions to binge drink

This adapted version of CLFC also achieved statistically significant improvements in all 9 of the following targeted measures:

  • Communication skills
  • Conflict resolution skills
  • Intrapersonal skills
  • Emotional awareness skills
  • Emotional expression skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Relationship management
  • Relationship satisfaction
  • Relationship commitment

In addition to the quasi-experimental research studies, respondents to CLFC retrospective surveys analyzed by McGuire & Associates showed the following promising results:

  • 88% of the participants in CLFC reported that their personal use of alcohol and/or drugs has gone down since they started the program.
  • 100% of respondents "strongly agree" or "agree" that they have positive parental influence with their children after participating in CLFC.
  • 99% of the respondents report that they are "Much more likely" or "Somewhat more likely" to talk with a trusted adult family member about a personal or family problem, after participating in the CLFC program.
  • 72% more respondents "strongly agree" that they have the confidence to say "no" when they need to following their involvement in CLFC.

Parents and other caring adults who are able to resist negative influences, communicate effectively, manage personal and family conflict, process and respectfully express their emotions to others, and reach out for help with hope and trust are in a great position to maintain long-term successful recovery. These adults can, and often report that they do, teach these same powerful life skills to their children and other youth in their lives. In this way, these recovery skills can be passed from one generation to another, and operate simultaneously as substance abuse recovery support for recovering adults and substance abuse prevention for youth.

Testimonials from Participants in Recovery

"First of all I would like to thank you all for everything you've taught me over these last 10 weeks. I now have a better outlook on how to express my feelings and listen to others. Also, I have learned more about substance abuse and how to teach it to my kids and others. I'm very grateful and pleased with the knowledge I received from this group. Thanks Christopher and Chris."
--Kevin C.

"I learned a lot about dealing with my children and different ways of handling them. I also learned a lot about drugs and alcohol. This program was helpful in different areas."
-- Johnny Clark

"COPES has opened my eyes to a lot of things in my life, the issues, problems, and situations I deal with on a day to day basis. It has given me the proper tools to deal with these issues and situations. I am truly grateful to have had this experience. COPES has helped me better understand myself, relationships, chemical dependency, and much more. "
-- Byron B.

If you are interested in using the CLFC program to serve substance abuse recovery populations, call or email COPES at (502) 583-6820 or tstrader@sprynet.com.