Gaston County Family Therapeutic Visitation Center

The Gaston County, North Carolina project proposes to implement the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program. The purpose is to provide services to children and their families in foster care due to parental drug use through the Therapeutic Visitation Center. Through this program, Gaston County can make significant strides towards mitigating the opioid crisis and fostering a safer, healthier community for all residents. Project activities include supervised visitations for children in foster care; therapeutic services for opioid-impacted children and foster children who were removed from their homes because of substance abuse or aging out of the system. Activities also include substance abuse counseling for both children and their families, helping parents and guardians better navigate the challenges of substance use, abuse, and recovery. Dedicated substance abuse counseling will enhance communication and understanding within families, and promote stability, resilience, and healing. Expected outcomes include strengthened resilience for children and their families impacted by substance abuse, improved substance abuse recovery rates throughout Gaston County, and enhanced community support. The intended beneficiaries of this program are children in foster care due to parental drug use and their families.