A new $5.4 million program funded by the Palaszczuk Government will help families in 10 locations, including Caboolture, to break the hold of ice and other drugs.
State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said Lives Lived Well will deliver the Breakthrough for Families program throughout the Caboolture area.
“Children in our community are at particular risk when a parent or family member has an addiction to ice or other illicit drugs,” Mr Ryan said.
“We know that almost one in three children taken into care by Child Safety has a parent who has used methamphetamine, usually ice, in the past 12 months.
“This drug causes rapid damage within families.
“Most of the harm is to children under the age of five, and usually happens less than a year after the parent starts using ice.
“These families need specialist help to get back to being the parents their children need.”
Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the program would include individual support sessions with families as well as public workshops and forums.
“It is about connecting them to support services so they have improved capacity to care for their loved ones, most importantly their children,” she said.
Ms Farmer said the delivery of Breakthrough for Families will be supported by state-wide program resources, training and support for workers.
The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council has also been brought on board to support delivery in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Ms Farmer said the program aimed to be accessible for families and individuals including those living in remote and regional communities.
“The program will target Cape York, Townsville, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Caboolture, Mackay, Darling Downs, West Moreton and South West, and the Wide Bay,” she said.
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