CRAFT: Helping Latino Families Concerned About a Loved One

Abstract

ABSTRACT Getting treatment-resistant relatives, or identified patients (IPs), motivated to seek help for alcohol problems is a challenge for many concerned significant others (CSOs). The Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach is a program that teaches CSOs how to effectively communicate with their IPs to engage them to seek treatment. CRAFT may be considered a culturally appropriate approach for Latinos because of its collaborative relationship with the family system. In addition to capitalizing on the bonds of the Latino family to engage IPs into treatment, CRAFT is a structured, practical, and time-limited treatment method; these are elements that Latinos generally prefer in therapy. The present paper elaborates on the appeal and utility of the CRAFT approach for Latino CSOs. This research demonstrates that CRAFT was successful in helping both Latino and Euro-American CSOs engage their IPs into treatment. Moreover, CSO emotional functioning and family functioning improved for both ethnic groups. Because the Latinos who participated in this research were moderately to highly acculturated to the mainstream culture, it is uncertain how successful the CRAFT approach would be in helping less acculturated Latino CSOs. Recommendations are offered to adapt CRAFT for less acculturated Latinos.