WE BELIEVE

• Families are intrinsically healthy and competent
• People and environments are constantly in transition
• Individuals, families and communities will find & utilize competence
• Competence is unavailable when individuals & families are cut off from their extended families and natural support systems
• To access competence, enlarge & mobilize the natural support system
• Eliminate the we-they dichotomy and maintain connection to family and culture of origin
• Connectedness to family and culture of origin is protective against risk-taking behavior
• Trauma affects all members of the family and community who, in turn, affect each other
• Loyalty, intergenerational dynamics and protectiveness make families more “powerful” than treatment agents to effect change
• Families are capable of doing much of the psychosocial and spiritual work needed, given a balance of agency and communion
• A flexible approach to intervention allows family, friends and support systems to motivate change
• Emphasis on support and caring allows networks to remain part of any treatment or intervention system to facilitate entry into treatment, treatment and aftercare
• If psychological or psychiatric treatment is needed then, whenever possible, outpatient intervention is preferred to allow family, friends and community to remain intact and to collaborate with the treatment system