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Overview:
This training program, which is designed to
support institutions working on behalf of
street children in the Americas, has provided more
than a thousand professionals in Central and South
America with training in drug abuse treatment and
rehabilitation for youth at high risk for substance
abuse. The
program, made possible by the generous support of the United States
Government since 1995, covers topics such as early detection, detoxification, counseling, family
therapy and social reintegration.
Activities
in 2000:
In
May 2000, national workshops examined
the substance abuse situation among street children
and a Central American training course was given on
methodologies for intervention with high-risk youth
with substance abuse problems.
The course was held in Honduras on July 3-7,
2000, and attended by fifty-five Central American
professionals working on behalf of high-risk youth.
Activities
in 2001:
In
2001, CICAD focused its efforts on Central America.
As part of its Hurricane Mitch relief effort,
the U.S. State Department provided CICAD with
financial support to expand the street children
program to include El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
and Nicaragua. Approximately two hundred Central
American professionals attended training courses held
in Colombia in 1999 - 2000.
Topics included theoretical models, ambulatory care,
early detection and the referral of cases, group
therapy, family therapy, community intervention and
structure, standards and management of Therapeutic
Communities.
In
May 2001, an advanced-level regional training course
on therapeutic interventions with high-risk youth with
substance abuse problems was given in Bogota.
Follow-up activities include both national and
regional training and direct technical assistance.
Activities
in 2002:
In
February 2002, a regional advanced-level course on
therapeutic interventions for high-risk youth with
substance abuse problems provided training to Honduran
and Colombian educators and social workers. The course
was carried with the staff of the the San Gregorio
therapeutic community in Bogotá, Colombia.
In July and October 2002, CICAD
cooperated with
the Chilean National Drug Council (CONACE) and the CREDHO Foundation to deliver nationwide
training courses to approximately 150 Chilean social and health professionals. The
courses focused on family therapy, codependency and relapse prevention. Technical assistance
was also provided to CONACE to restructure policies
for youth at risk and foster inter-agency
collaboration with Ministries of Education, Youth,
Justice and Health. CICAD
plans to continue to provide CONACE with technical
assistance to structure the delivery of early
intervention, rehabilitation, and social reintegration
services to youth at risk in 2003.
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