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Support Groups
When: Tuesdays Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00pm Where: Ex-Serviceman's Club, Petunia Rd. Silvertown This free support group is effective as an aftercare programme and also as part of the individual's recovery journey. Providing the emotional support & educational tools to individuals, family and friends. The meetings address things such as:
By committing to support groups, friends and family can deal with issues arising on a regular basis in a safe environment. The purpose of a support group Provides the user & families with educational tools Offers emotional support during a difficult time To try & help alleviate fears & concerns through education & discussions Offers a reminder that you are not alone and help is often just a meeting away Is a place for people to give & receive emotional & practical support (to share) To exchange information Get confirmation that your feelings are “normal” To let off some steam Finding people with common concerns & experiences Finding people that can relate to you or sympathise Find practical tips & resources Find information on treatments & strategies (booklets or brochures & help-lines) Counselling and referrals Protection Is helpful to the recovery process Emotional & social encouragement Decreases mental stress & anxiety To voice your experiences while listening to other’s stories Teach on how to modify behaviour & teach coping skills To teach alternative methods & exercises A Good support group Has up-to-date, reliable information Regular meetings Have a venue and meet on time Access to appropriate professional advisors (Social workers, psychologists) Has strong leadership Has a clearly stated confidentiality policy Prompt response to contacts List of professional contact numbers for referrals Bring in professional speakers on occasion Have specific discussions eg on “coping” Non-judgmental environment Recreational Programme
Our recreational programmes include: Experiential learning through group therapy, team building and camps. Experiential learning creates an opportunity for individuals to engage and to apply understandings, while learning new information about the world around them. Individuals arrive to the group eager to share their experiences. Beyond the value of this, they also enrich others by bringing their own experience into the group. It gives them the opportunity to take what they have learned and apply it to real world situations. Taking their learning beyond the group provides them with new perspectives while allowing them to make personal contact with the community and give of themselves in ways they may have never thought possible. Through this, individuals gain confidence in their own abilities, discover innovative ways to overcome obstacles and turn a group project into a life experience. It also gives opportunities for individuals to find their potential and to learn how to engage in a variety of exercises that encourage and develop a variety of directions and opportunities for growth and depth while engaged in the activities. They become more trusting of their potential and desire to work seriously and honour excellence without feeling an intense pressure to always be right. They become aware of how important it is to take time, focus on detail, and approach the obstacles with patience. Many people like to know what the goal is, but in our groups they are less worried about that and are more interested in what is happening in the present while they work on the challenging elements of the group. They also thrive from having “wins” while experiential learning can be a win-win situation in education. School Programme
The aim is to connect learners to the community and increase achievement in academics. The programme encourages youth to get involved with school activities and community groups help steer them away from violence, risky behaviour and drug use. The programme will encourage learners to express themselves in more positive ways such as Creative Art, Drama, Music and Sport. Counselling also forms part of the programme offered. Learners often feel that they cannot discuss their difficulties or they may not have the vocabulary to express their feelings. Hence our counseling can also take a non-directive or metaphoric approach. Some issues covered are bereavement and loss, trauma and “what about me” questions. Relevant resources will also be drawn into the programme to benefit school’s specific needs. |
Feeding Scheme
When: Thursdays Time: 10:00 am – 1:00pm Where: Assemblies of God c/o Blossom & Cornflower Rd. Bridgetown The Feeding scheme is integrated into our substance abuse awareness and early intervention program. We realised the need to also meet the people at their point of need, whilst offering the educational tools and coping methods. 
Employee Assistance
Programme The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is designed to assist in the identification and resolution of productivity issues associated with employees impaired by personal concerns but not limited to health, family, finance, alcohol, drugs, emotional, stress, or other personal concerns that may adversely affect employee job performance. Active Social Assistance is equipped with registered and trained professionals consisting of Psychologists, Counselors and Therapists. The programmes are aligned with best practice models and are evidence based. We believe that we are experts in the field as our programmes reach beyond just theory. Many organizations recognise that one of their most important assets is its labour force. It is therefore within an organisation's best interest to produce an environment that is positive and workforce oriented. EAP’s are a key element in maintaining a successful and cost-effective business. Promoting a sense of well-being amongst personnel has a knock-on effect of increasing efficiency, productivity, satisfaction and, crucially, long-term commitment towards the employing organisation. EAPs have provided great value to employers, employees and their dependents. The EAP’s counseling services for work related concerns that may affect the mental and emotional well-being of the individual, will include: · Marital / relationship issues · Family issues · Personal and emotional difficulties · Interpersonal conflicts · Multicultural issues · Work-related concerns · Violence / Trauma · Bereavement · Substance abuse As well as aftercare and other services, which will include: · Outpatient Recovery Programme · Support Groups · Monthly Character-building Programmes · Drug Testing · Referrals ASA’s EAP has several mediums of contact which includes a 24/7/365 call centre. In addition to this is the email, mixxit and sms service. All these mediums of contact are controlled by quality assurance calls, date and time stamps and print function which are all integrated into our reporting system. Presentations
To protect health, safety and quality of life for all, especially children. Almost 95% of people with substance abuse problems area aware of their problem. Of the 5% of those who recognize that they do have problem, less than half have made an been unsuccessful effort to obtain treatment. These estimates highlights the importance of increasing the prevention and awareness efforts and improving access to treatment for substance misuse and the co-occurring problems. Substance misuse has a major impact on individuals, families and communities. The effects of substance misuse is cumulative and significantly contributing to costly social, physical, mental and public health issues. These problems includes: ~Teenage pregnancy ~Child abuse ~Sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) ~Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) ~Domestic Violence ~Crime ~Motor Vehicle accidents ~Physical fights ~Homicide ~Suicide Substance misuse is associated with the consumption of mind and behaviour-altering substances that have negative behavioral and health outcomes. In addition substance misuse has been a major focal point in discussions about social values: people argue about whether it is a disease or a matter of personal choice. There is now a deeper understanding of substance misuse as a disorder that develops in adolescence, and for some individuals, will develop into a chronic illness that will require lifelong care and monitoring. Community-level prevention treatment providers such as Active Social Assistance are in a position to better understand the environmental and social contributing factors that lead to substance misuse. And hence, the importance of skilled and qualified treatment providers. ASA's objective is to make significant progress in addressing substance misuse, particularly amount youth, via our awareness presentations. |
Recovery Programme
When: by appointment Duration: 9 sessions, 3 appointments per week, 1&1/2hr per session & Support Group attendance Where: Ex-Serviceman's Club, Petunia Rd. Silvertown We offer an outpatient programme that provides assistance to individuals and families infected and affected by substance misuse. All consultations are strictly confidential. The out-patient recovery allows individuals to remain integrated into their everyday activities and deal with everyday situations whilst attending sessions. In these sessions various aspects of the individual’s journey will be explored, such as blame, guilt, shame, frustration, hopelessness, ambivalence, trust, restoration, re-integration, etc. As part of the recovery process the immediate family members are also included in some of the sessions. Although the individual may receive support from family, friends and the ASA staff, a large responsibility lies on that individual. There truly is no clear-cut “end” to the recovery process. Families struggling with the effects of their loved one’s behaviour should attend support groups on a regular basis to continue a constructive program of support and ongoing education. Substance misuse is considered a “family disease", and family involvement with people combating substance misuse requires continual attendance at support groups during and after the formal recovery programme. Assessing the dilemma Spiritual abyss Dysfunctional individuals Dysfunctional families Dysfunctional communities Low self esteem Lack of identity Poor or lack of parenting No good role models No self respect No respect for others or their property Lack of hope Financial dire straits Poor education Apathetic society Lack of exposure to life beyond their own surroundings. Character-Building Programme
We believe that when you alter your thoughts, you are able to alter your behaviour. Hence some of these programmes include: Parenting, Marriage, Finance, Stress management, Goal setting, Depression and anxiety, Motivation and rewards, Exploring strengths and weaknesses, etc. Family & Individual Counselling
The individual: The individual will be seen by a counselor and an assessment will take place. Our counselors are all qualified in social work or psychology and have experience in the area of substance misuse. The objective of the assessment is for the counselor to get to know more factual information about the individual’s situation. The family: Often, over time, daily family involvement has only managed to enable the user. Family members frequently do not know how to bring up the issue of addiction , and opt to ignore the problem for fear of pushing their loved one away during a confrontation or intervention. These are legitimate concerns, and while families should understand that approaching their loved one should be a gentle and supportive process, they also need to understand that most patients seek treatment because of positive family involvement and intervention. In these sessions families are able to step back and recognize negative behaviour patterns. Well-meaning family often become trapped in a cycle of enabling and co-dependency. They pretend that nothing is wrong and unintentionally assist the individual’s behaviour by ignoring the problem. Conversely, family members might become distant, angry, and resentful. They may believe that they cannot address the issue without angering the patient or exacerbating their loved one’s addiction. During counselling they often identify behaviours and traits that they can adjust to break the cycle. |