M-PACT: Helping Families Find Hope, Understanding and a Way Forward
When a parent or carer is experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs, the impact reaches far beyond the just them. Children and other family members can experience worry, confusion, stress and feelings that can be difficult to talk about.
At Motiv8, we believe families should not have to face these experiences alone.
That is why we deliver M-PACT (Moving Parents and Children Together) licenced by the Forward Trust. M-PACT is an eight week programme designed to support families where parental substance use has had an impact on family life.
M-PACT is about putting the child at the heart of the work, while supporting the whole family to understand what is happening, improve communication and build healthier relationships.
What is M-PACT?
M-PACT is a structured family programme that helps parents, carers and children understand the impact that substance use can have on family life.
It provides a safe and supportive environment where families can explore relationships, communication, feelings and the ways in which substance use can affect everyone.
Importantly, M-PACT isn’t about blame.
It isn’t about asking families to go over everything that has happened in the past.
Instead…
The focus of M-PACT is on the present and what can be done to help the family move forward.
The programme is based on the understanding that a family is a system and when one part of that system is struggling, it can impact everyone else.
So, putting it simply while one person may be experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs, the impact can be felt throughout the family.
Supporting the whole family can therefore help create positive change for everyone.
One of the biggest barriers to asking for help can simply be not knowing what to expect.
Families may have questions or worries about M-PACT and that is completely normal.
Here are some of the things we hear and what we would like families to know…
- “They have to be in the right place.”
Not necessarily, you don’t have to feel completely ready or have everything sorted before starting the M-PACT 8 week programme.
The main requirement is that the person is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs to participate safely on the day of the session.
M-PACT isn’t about expecting everything to be perfect before you arrive.
Our team will talk with families beforehand to make sure the programme is appropriate and safe for everyone involved. There are some circumstances where M-PACT may not be suitable, and we’ll discuss these with you as part of the assessment process.
- “I don’t want to bring everything up again.”
We understand, M-PACT isn’t about asking you to sit in front of a group and explain what you have been through or why you are there.
You don’t have to share your personal history.
The focus is on what is happening now, your relationships and how the family can move forward.
There are opportunities to talk, but you are supported to participate in a way that feels safe and appropriate.
- “What if something I say upsets someone else?”
It is understandable to worry about saying the wrong thing. This is a sensitive topic and is likely to push buttons at times. This is why trained Motiv8 staff run the programme and there are group rules to help gain an understanding of what is appropriate and what isn’t.
M-PACT often involves group work, which means families can discover that their experiences are not unique.
The group can create a shared community voice, rather than putting the responsibility on one individual to explain everything or have all the answers.
You are not expected to speak for everyone.
You are there as part of a supported group, with trained Motiv8 staff there to guide the sessions.
- “The whole family won’t come.”
That’s okay, M-PACT is about supporting the child/children, so the whole family does not have to attend for a child to benefit.
A family isn’t just parents and children. Grandparents, aunties, uncles and other important adults in a child’s life can also be part of their support network and can come along too.
What matters is helping the child feel supported and giving the family the opportunity to make positive changes around them.
- “They have the problem – why should we have to do the work?”
This is something families can understandably struggle with. If someone is experiencing difficulties with alcohol or drugs, it can feel as though they should be the only person who needs to change – But families are connected and M-PACT uses a systemic approach, recognising that when one part of a family system isn’t working well, it can have an impact on the rest of the system.
By working together, family members can understand how they influence and support one another and find new ways of communicating and responding.
It is not about saying everyone is responsible for the substance use, it is about recognising that everyone can be part of the solution.
- “What about getting everyone there?”
We know that family life is busy with school runs, work, appointments, dinner times and everything else that comes with family life can make committing to an 8 week programme feel difficult. That is why we try to remove some of those practical barriers.
Transport can be provided, and dinner is provided for the whole family during the sessions.
This means families don’t have to worry about getting everyone fed before they arrive or disrupting the evening routine more than necessary.
Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for families to participate.
- What happens during M-PACT?
M-PACT takes place over 8 weekly sessions, with each session focusing on different aspects of family life and the impact of substance use.
Families can explore:
- How substance use can impact everyone in the family
- Thoughts and feelings
- Communication
- Relationships
- Boundaries
- How family members respond to one another
- Coping with difficult situations
- Building resilience
- Sources of support
- Looking towards a more positive future
The programme isn’t about finding someone to blame. It is about understanding what is happening and exploring what could be different.
Putting children at the heart of the programme
At Motiv8, we know that children can sometimes become the hidden impact of alcohol and drug use. Children may know that something isn’t right without fully understanding why. Worrying about a parent, feel responsible for things that aren’t their responsibility, or keep their feelings to themselves because they don’t want to make things worse.
M-PACT gives children a voice. – It helps them understand that they are not responsible for their parent’s substance use and that their feelings matter.
It also gives parents and other family members the opportunity to better understand the child’s experience.
Sometimes, simply being able to say “this is how it feels for me” can be the beginning of a very important conversation.
It is about the whole family but is centred on the child
M-PACT recognises that change within a family doesn’t happen in isolation. By supporting the whole family, we can help create an environment where children feel safer, more understood and better supported. That doesn’t mean every family member has to participate in the same way. It means looking at the family as a whole while keeping the needs and wellbeing of the child at the centre.
You don’t have to have everything figured out
Perhaps you are wondering whether M-PACT is right for your family.
Maybe you are…
- worried about what will be expected of you.
- worried about what your child might say.
- worried about bringing everything back up.
- simply not sure whether your family is “ready”.
You don’t need to have all the answers before getting in touch.
Our team can talk you through the programme, answer your questions and explain what happens next. Sometimes the hardest step is simply making that first contact and with the support of Motiv8 you don’t have to make that step alone.
Moving Parents and Children Together
M-PACT is about helping families understand one another, strengthen relationships and find a way forward. It is about recognising that when one part of a family is struggling, everyone can feel the impact – but everyone can also be part of creating positive change. Most importantly, M-PACT is about making sure children don’t have to navigate the impact of dependency without support.
There is a way forward.
There is support.
And families can move forward together.
Could M-PACT help your family?
If you would like to find out more about M-PACT, contact the Motiv8 Family Service for a confidential conversation. Our open evening is Tuesday 8th September 5-6.30pm – The Hub, 90-92a Woodbourne Road, Douglas, IM2 3AS and with the M-PACT 8 week group programme starting on Tuesday 22nd September 2026.
📞 Freephone: 0808 1624 627
💬 WhatsApp: 07624 388750
✉️ Email: contact@motiv8.im
You don’t have to know exactly what you need before you contact us.
We are here to help you find out.
