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Honolulu Family Treatment Services (FTS) offers a ministry of caring, healing, and teaching for families experiencing addiction, trauma, or distorted parenting. Its five on-site treatment programs attempt to meet a family’s physical, psychological, and spiritual needs.
Services at FTS, which in 1996 served over 125 families, include (1) residential, day treatment, and outpatient services for chemically dependent pregnant and parenting women and their children, (2) a therapeutic nursery for infants and toddlers of enrolled parents, (3) a psychiatric day treatment program for emotionally disturbed 3 to 7-year- old children and their families, and(4) supportive living services for FTS graduates and women currently participating in outpatient services.
The goals of these programs are to enable children and parents to achieve more stability, develop more effective ways of relating to each other and other people, and learn skills to become more successful, effective, and productive.
Involvement in either residential or day treatment programs may include psychotherapy, substance abuse counseling, observation of parent-child interactions, participation in daily programs, parenting classes, group meetings or practice sessions at home. Parents are included in all the fun, too–holiday celebrations, family nights, and camping.
The programs are housed on the Army’s newly renovated Kaimuki campus under the executive direction of Ms. Claire Woods. “We are really proud of our programs,” remarks Woods. “They are on the cutting edge of treatment for women and families.”
A key component for all of the FTS programs is the multi-disciplinary treatment team, which includes a medical director, clinical director, team psychiatrist, registered nurse, dietary and parenting consultants, chaplain, and program clinical staff. The team treatment approach makes it easier for clients to reach needed services and limits fragmentation.
One of the vital characteristics is FTS’s climate of Christian love, concern, and respect for clients. There is a warm, nurturing atmosphere, an atmosphere identified as true “aloha” spirit.
FTS Chaplain Jan Young says: “I have watched broken, hurting, and struggling women enter our doors. Many come with emotional and physical scars that have made them cold and uncaring…like frightened children. I have watched as they have progressed through this ‘home’ to become warm, loving mothers with hope in their hearts and eyes. I have no doubt that God places his blessing and gives guidance to the staff daily, who in turn help create the atmosphere necessary for recovery.”