Wellbriety & Celebrating Families!™

Wellbriety & Celebrating Families!^TM (Wellbriety & CF!) is an adaptation of CF! designed for Indigenous families with children ages 3–18 in which at least one parent has problematic substance use and is at risk of engaging in domestic violence, child abuse, or child neglect. The program incorporates traditional Indigenous teachings and cultural practices into the CF! content to meet the needs of Indigenous children and families. Wellbriety & CF! aims to break the cycle of addiction in families, improve participants’ healthy living skills, and increase children’s well-being and functioning. The curriculum engages every member of the family to foster the development of healthy and addiction-free individuals and emphasizes the importance of community service and individual spirituality.

Facilitators deliver Wellbriety & CF! to groups of families in weekly sessions. Sessions involve both parents and children and are fully scripted, including role-play, handouts, children’s stories, and activity sheets. Each session follows the same structure: (1) a 30-minute family meal, (2) 90 minutes of small group activities focused on the week’s topic, and (3) a 30-minute structured “Connecting with my Family” activity. 

In the small group activities, both parents and children learn about the week’s topic with parents in one group together and children meeting in separate groups by age (3–7, 8–10, 11–13, and 14–18). At least two group leaders facilitate each small group. Small group topics focus on healthy living skills (e.g., effective communication and anger management) and key addiction and recovery concepts (e.g., addiction is a disease, substance use impacts the whole family). For parents and for children ages 8–18, small group activities consist of an opening exercise designed to center the group and set expectations, a presentation of the main content, and a closing circle for reflection. For children ages 3–7, small group activities consist of a gathering activity, circle time, activity time, a break, story time, and a closing circle. The small group topics for children ages 3–7 include developmentally appropriate content for younger children.  

In the “Connecting with My Family” activity, families come back together to participate in a structured activity. Each week’s activity builds on the topics discussed in the breakout sessions and is designed to model positive parenting behaviors and strengthen family relationships. For example, activities might focus on reading to and affirming children, spending time together safely as a family, or talking about how addiction has impacted the family.

Wellbriety & CF! does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies met eligibility criteria for review.

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: Nov 2023

Sources

The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual and the program or service developer’s website. 

This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the Review Process page or download the Handbook.