My challenge I have chosen for my course project falls into
the category of children exposed to risk, stress, or trauma, with a focus on
substance abuse. I selected this challenge because I grew up with a mother that
was an alcoholic, and I also see many situations as an educator of lives being
torn apart, due to substance abuse. Working with students that live with this
challenge is difficult because every child deals with substance abuse in
different ways. Children that live with an addicted parent(s) may often feel insecure
or scared and long term can contribute to mental health issues such as
depression or anxiety. Some of the challenges that children face due to living
with substance abuse include behavioral issues, medical or psychiatric issues, educational
issues, socioeconomic strains, or emotional consequences. Often overwhelmed and
distracted by issues occurring in the home, these children may be unable to
focus on homework assignments and may arrive to school feeling anxious and
preoccupied about their parents' behavior. I feel it is my job as an educator to learn
more about this challenge to nurture, guide, and help these students, so they
too do not fall into the same situations as their parents. What educational
strategies have you found effective when working with these students? Are there
any programs out there that are effective in dealing with substance abuse? How
can we help our students beat the odds and flourish in a negative environment
such as this?
Emily Williams
