The Betty Ford Institute is dedicated to exploring and resolving controversial questions and critical issues in the field of addiction through Consensus Conferences. This approach, which combines action research with systems consultation and intervention, is divided into four parts:

1. Identify a critical or contentious problem in the field;
2. Convene a small group of experts to explore it;
3. Summarize the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the conference in the form of a Strategy for Change; and
4. Stage a follow-up conference in 18-24 months to evaluate and ensure successful implementation of the Recommendations and Strategy for Change.

Current Conference

A Critical Issues conference entitled "Breaking Intergenerational Cycles of Addiction: Parent-focused Strategies" is planned for September, 2010 which will convene drug treatment providers, policy makers and researchers to explore reasons for the relative lack of education and training about parent–child relationship skills provided by chemical dependency treatment programs to addicted parents. Recommendations will be generated by the Conference suggesting ways to overcome this programmatic deficit.

Betty Ford Institute Conferences to Date:

"Addressing the Crisis: Helping Graduate Medical Education Integrate Addiction..." (December, 2008)
"What is Recovery Redux?" (September, 2008)
"Extending the Benefits of Addiction Treatment; Practical Strategies for Continuing..." (October, 2007)
"What is Recovery? A Working Definition from the Betty Ford Institute." (September, 2006)

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