FORT DRUM — Soldiers and families coping with reintegration issues after a deployment soon will have a place to turn to for support.

The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council of Jefferson County and 10 other north country agencies are trained in Creating Lasting Family Connections, a family counseling opportunity to improve family bonding and communication as well as self awareness with regard to alcohol and substance abuse issues.

Anita Seefried-Brown, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council program director, said the free and voluntary program will be able to "get families back around the table."

"Families need to find the equilibrium," she said. "It's to help families reconnect and level the playing field."

North country agencies trained in Creating Lasting Family Connections include, but aren't limited to, the Children's Home of Jefferson County, Planned Parenthood of Northern New York, the Watertown City School District and the Shared Episcopal Ministry of Northern New York.

Jamie L. Augustine, Family Connections coordinator, said the goal is to reach out to at least 100 Fort Drum families.

"We're focusing on families and how they communicate," she said. "This is to minimize the effects of alcohol and substance abuse in soldiers' families."

Over the course of several weeks, after families' adults and children each complete Family Connections' three six-session modules, Miss Augustine said, they will go home and discuss how to delay or eliminate the negative behaviors, in an effort to create a better family connection.

The program, she said, is open to Fort Drum soldiers and families who may or may not have experienced alcohol and or substance abuse problems upon returning from a deployment.

Miss Augustine said the program will teach people basic knowledge and cultural attitudes of alcohol and substance abuse, offer self-disclosure activities, explain communication to avoid conflict and help reconnect parents and their children.

Once the message gets out about Creating Lasting Family Connections, she said, a specific day, time and location will be selected for its meetings.