Jerry Moe

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Jerry Moe is a therapist, [1] author, trainer, and public speaker. He is a leader on issues for children living in families impacted by addiction and an advocate that recovery from addiction should include all family members. [2]

Contents

Early life

Jerry Moe grew up in San Francisco, the youngest of three children in a family that had struggled with addiction for many generations. At 14 he was starting to get into trouble when a teacher intervened and suggested he attend a program for teens affected by a loved one's drinking, Alateen. For the first time, Moe found himself surrounded by other kids his age going through the same experiences, feeling the same guilt, sadness, and confusion.  Eventually, Moe's mother began attending Al-Anon and shortly after, Moe's father obtained sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous. He lived the last 38 years of his life sober. This experience exemplified for Moe the importance of recovery for the whole family. [3]

Career

Moe began his career in education and realized that young children ages 7 to 12 years old were left out of the recovery process altogether – often being the first to be affected but the last to receive help and support. [3] [4] From his firsthand experience of a childhood and adolescence marred by alcoholism came a deep understanding of why children in that age group might need a helping hand to cope and to avoid alcoholism – or drug dependency – themselves. [3] [5] Moe began developing a psycho-educational program for young children impacted by addiction and found support for the program at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA, where the new program was successfully piloted for a 6-month period. [3] [6] [7]  

Moe served as National Director of Children’s Programs at the Betty Ford Center. [5] [4]

Professional highlights

In addition to his work at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Moe is one of the foremost experts on counseling for young children in families affected by addiction. [8] [9] [10] He has written dozens of books and articles that are used by families and other professionals throughout the world. [10] Moe has spoken in all 50 states and trained or presented in 24 countries. [11] He has also spoken at the White House and on Capitol Hill, and has been interviewed frequently by local, state and national media. [11]

Moe's work helping young children in families facing addiction has been featured on Sesame Street. [12]

Since 2019, Moe has been a significant contributor to ‘Sesame Street in Communities’ [13] [14] and its initiative on parental addiction. [15] [16] [17]

Moe lives with his family in Palm Desert, CA. He is a cancer survivor, father to three children and grandfather of four. [3]

Awards

Books and articles

Related Research Articles

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Nacoa is a charity in the United Kingdom providing information and support for everyone affected by their parent's drinking through a free, confidential telephone and email helpline. Nacoa is a registered charity in England and Wales – charity number 1009143.

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Ahlan Simsim is an Arabic language co-production of Sesame Street that premiered on 2 February 2020 on MBC 3. The show is the spiritual successor to Iftah Ya Simsim, a Kuwaiti production that ran from 1979 to 1990 and aired in multiple Arabic-speaking countries. The show also shares a name and its characters with an initiative to provide education for displaced Syrian children.

References

  1. Kennedy, Mark. "'Sesame Street' tackles parental addiction crisis in a way kids can understand". USA Today. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  2. "Jerry Moe: Call for More Research on Parent's Addiction Recovery and Its Effect on Children". Partnership to End Addiction. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Barkas, Sherry. "Jerry Moe finds the light in a childhood darkened by alcohol". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. 1 2 "Kids and the Recovery : Substance abuse: The children of recovering alcoholics and addicts find life can get harder when their parents kick the habit. Some have nowhere to turn". Los Angeles Times. 1989-10-30. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  5. 1 2 3 Gieseke, Winston. "Jerry Moe to be honored with Firestone Award for his work with children". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  6. Gross, Joan (1999-02-26). "Addicts' Kids Find Safety at Children's Place". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  7. "Prevention Partnership International History". Celebrating Families. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  8. "Jerry Moe Biography | Booking Info for Speaking Engagements". www.allamericanspeakers.com. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  9. "World-renowned Hazelden Betty Ford children's counselor Jerry Moe to retire after 43 years of helping kids in families affected by addiction". www.hazeldenbettyford.org. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  10. 1 2 "Jerry Moe - Public Speaking & Appearances - Speakerpedia, Discover & Follow a World of Compelling Voices". speakerpedia.com. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  11. 1 2 "StackPath". www.wholehearted.org. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  12. "Atlanta team partners with Sesame Street to support kids of parents fighting addiction". 11Alive.com. November 1, 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  13. "Guest Post: Supporting Children". Sesame Street in Communities. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  14. "Sesame Workshop Launches Initiative to Support Children Affected by Parental Addiction | Sesame Workshop". www.sesameworkshop.org. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  15. "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee: Under The Influence: Kids Of Alcoholics". Television Academy. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  16. "Addiction takes up residence on Sesame Street". Daily Democrat. 2019-12-01. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  17. "Rehab Riviera: Addiction takes up residence on Sesame Street". Daily News. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  18. Arria, Amelia M.; Mericle, Amy A.; Rallo, Deanna; Moe, Jerry; White, William L.; Winters, Ken C.; O'Connor, Garrett (January 2013). "Integration of Parenting Skills Education and Interventions in Addiction Treatment". Journal of Addiction Medicine. 7 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1097/ADM.0b013e318270f7b0. ISSN   1932-0620. PMC   3562421 . PMID   23079483.