Program: Vriendekring/Ondersteuningsgroep

PROGRAM:  MAART 2012 - AUGUSTUS 2012

DIE VRIENDEKRING VERGADER ELKE TWEEDE WOENSDAGAAND 19:00 IN DIE RAADSAAL BY DIE AURORA SENTRUM. ALLE BELANGSTELLENDES IS BAIE WELKOM.

                                                                       

7 Maart 2012 – Geselsaand – Verantwoordelike terapeut – Douw + Chris bring koek

21 Maart 2012 – Geestelike verryking - Erich – reëlings: Leonie

4 April 2012 – Geselsaand – V  erantwoordelike terapeut 

18 April 2012 – Ten pin bowling – reëlings: Elmari of Marietjie  

2 Mei 2012 – Hoe lyk ons groep? Marianna fassiliteer die sessie                  

         

16 Mei 2012 – Auksano – Okkulte opvolg – Elsabé Bester – reëlings: Elmari

30 Mei 2012 - Jewel Voices – reëlings: Chris

13 Junie 2012 – Spreker vir getuienisaand: Reëlings – Johan Victor        

27 Junie 2012 – DVD aand – reëlings: Douw

11 Julie 2012 – Sop en brood aand – reëlings: Jan, Bart en Gawie         

25 Julie 2012 – Hoe lyk ons groep nou? Marianna fassiliteer die sessie

8 Augustus 2012 – Gasspreker: Gert Kruger – Direkteur – reëlings: Santie

22 Augustus 2012 – Beplanning vir tweede helfte van 2012

5 September 2012 – Lentepiekniek – reëlings: Jan

Training: Aurora Centre Social Workers CPD points

TRAINING: AURORA CENTRE SOCIAL WORKERS

Aurora Centre can provide the following  training for CPD points:

1. Three day training on the identification and management of substance abuse — 13 CPD points. (SACSSP — CPD Approval no:  359/11)

2. One day training on the identification and management of co-dependency — 4 CPD points. (SACSSP — CPD Approval no:  107/11)

3.  Three day training on POPPETS (Programme of Primary Prevention Education Through Stories) - 9 CPD points. (SACSSP — CPD Approval no: 106/11)

Contact Santie Froneman for further information at Aurora Centre.

Tel: 051 — 447 4111

E-mail: info@auroracentre.co.za

   

HERSTELLENDE PRAKTYKE EN AVONTUURGEBASEERDE AFWENTELINGSPROGRAM - Maritsa Ells

HERSTELLENDE PRAKTYKE EN AVONTUURGEBASEERDE AFWENTELINGSPROGRAM –

MARITSA ELLS

Herstellende praktyke is ʼn opkomende veld van studie wat mense in staat stel om hul gemeenskap te bou en te herstel. Die sukses van herstellende praktyke mag help teen die koste van misdaad en om hervorming in kriminele geregtigheid te weeg te bring. Geregtigheid behoort nie ʼn problematiese konsep te wees nie, maar eerder ʼn geleent-heid om te herstel wat verkeerd gedoen is (Aertsen, 2009:4). Herstellende praktyke is ʼn filosofie wat aspekte insluit soos genesing, mediasie, deernis, vergifnis, genade en rekonsiliasie. Dit word erken as ʼn wêreldsiening wat sê dat alle mense met mekaar verbind is en dit het ʼn impak op ander mense (Consedine, 1999:183).

Zehr en Mika (2004:42) noem dat herstellende geregtigheid se doel is om die verkeerde reg te maak. Die behoefte van slagoffers aan inligting, bekragtiging, regverdiging, herstelling, getuienis, veiligheid en ondersteuning is die beginpunt van geregtigheid. Die geregtigheidsproses verskaf ʼn raamwerk wat die werk van herstelling bevorder. Slagoffers word bemagtig deur die verhoogde insette en deelneming aan die afwentelingsprogramme om die behoeftes en uitkomstes van persoonlike situasies te bepaal. Oortreders word betrek om skade so ver as moontlik te herstel.

Adolessente is, soos alle samelewingsgroepe, ook by misdaad betrokke daarom het die navorser dit goed gedink om ‘n Avontuurgebaseerde afwentelingsprogram te ontwikkel. Hierdie program strek oor ‘n tydperk van 6 weke waar oortreders 2 keer ‘n week groepe bywoon. Die program fokus op basiese lewensvaardighede soos probleemoplossing, selfbeeld en konfikhantering. Hierdie vaardighede word aangeleer deur aktiwiteite wat uitgevoer word op ‘n laetoubaan. Na afloop van die program is die adolessente geëvalueer om die impak van die program te bepaal.

Die waarde van AGT word opsommender wys as volg uiteengesit:

· Avontuur aktiwiteite het die groepsdinamika bevorder.

· Die lede kon gemaklik met mekaar kommunikeer en openlik teenoor mekaar wees.

· Deelnemers kon mekaar konfronteer tydens die sessies.

· Die besprekings het te alle tye positief geëindig.

· Die tegnieke wat benut is tydens avontuur ervaringe het die deelnemers gehelp om moeilike situasies makliker te hanteer. Dit het die deelnemers bewus gemaak dat hulle oor vaardighede beskik om situasies effektief te hanteer. Dit het ook die groepsdinamika verbeter.

Na afloop van die Avontuurgebaseerde afwentelingsprogram het die navorser ‘n natoets gedoen wat dui op die volgende:

· ʼn Algehele verbetering het voorgekom in tevredenheid, wat hul unieke gevoelens van welbehae meet.

· Selfhandhawende gedrag het oor die algemeen verbeter.

· Gevoelens van angstigheid, frustrasie en vrees het verminder.

· Die liggaamsbeeld het verbeter, met ander woorde die beeld wat deelnemers het oor hul liggame het verbeter na afloop van die program.

· Deelnemers is bemagtig om nie hulpeloos in hul situasies te voel nie.

· Deelnemers het die leiding aanvaar om weer mense te vertrou.

· Oortreders is verantwoordelik en aanspreeklik gehou vir hul aksies.

· Geleentheid vir heling is verskaf.

Die bogenoemde dui aan dat daar wel groei plaasgevind het en dat die adolessente se maatskaplike funksionering na afloop van die program verbeter het. Die navorser glo dat daar baie lesse geleer kan word vanuit avontuur ervaringe.

Director Editorial

VOORWOORD/EDITORIAL

Treatment Centres are often confronted by the media, employers, family and parents on the success of their specific programme. It is a fair question. They are often the sponsor for the treatment and should know what they can expect once treatment has been completed.  However, the answer is not always popular, but we must be honest with those that ask.

A number of factors play a crucial role in the outcome of treatment – the readiness for change (motivation and insight), the drug of preference, the duration of treatment, previous treatment episodes, participation in aftercare, the suitability of the treatment programme and support for a changed lifestyle.

Firstly, there are two parties involved in the treatment programme. The service user and the service provider. Success cannot be the responsibility of only one of the parties. Should one party fail to deliver or to participate, the treatment will most definitely fail. Both parties must be fully involved in the treatment programme to ensure that the service user benefits from the programme.

Secondly, relapses are likely to occur. Substance dependency is known as a “relapsing disease” – irrespective of the treatment centre. Treatment centres often claim to have above normal success rates. These claims may be unfounded or the criteria for success should be investigated. A success rate of 99% can for instance be claimed for the period the patient was in treatment (e.g. 21 days), but the success rate will drop as time lapses until a success rate of 40% over a period of 5 years is reached. A follow up question is which criteria were used to determine success? Was it abstinence, improved social functioning, marital stability, absent free days from employment or a combination of the above?

The drug of preference also affects the outcome of treatment. It is known that heroine treatment has a success rate of between 1 – 5% and that of alcohol may be around 40%. It has for example been found that methamphetamine (tik) patients should remain in treatment longer to improve the outcome of treatment. It is therefore more than just a ball park figure. It requires a breakdown of all ingredients.

It is often convenient to blame a specific treatment centre for a relapse, but there is more to it than meets the eye. Even if a patient has been successfully treated at a se-cond treatment centre can it be unfounded to praise the latter centre as being more successful. There is always the possibility that the person’s readiness for change has improved, or that the duration of treatment needed to be longer or that regular attendance of aftercare and improved support made the difference.

But it is also not all doom and gloom. Treatment works. Be it after the first admission, the third or even later. Most chronic illnesses – diabetes, hypertension and other – are susceptible for relapses.

Relapses are part of the recovering process.

G.H.J. Kruger

DIRECTOR 

Goodbye Aurora from group C

Goodbye Aurora from group C

It is both with sadness & with joy

that we now say goodbye

to this place & these people

who could only try.

To show us a path we can follow

Albeit a trying task.

They’ve given us useable tools & help

All we need to do.

The road ahead unknown to us

And fear we shall control.

It’s time to take back our lives & all

the things that from us were stole. 

With your blessing and prayers

We go back into the world;

Taking with us light you give

To man, woman, boy and girl.

To conclude with love in our hearts

For every one  of you

Thank you to the Aurora folk

We love and we will miss you too.

A poem by One of our Youths

A Poem by One of our  Youths

Stop and stare at the beautiful  blue sky

which use to be a black, fire filled nightmare.

Stare down at the red rose blooming,

which used to be a a thorn studded flower.

Used to addiction, used to the thoughts flowing through your veins as you thrust the needle into you skin.

Now the tranquility seem too much, for even the smallest matter now.

Brush your hand over your cheek, feel the warmth and not a dead, numb sensation.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and feel life flowing, pumping through you. What used to feel like a death sentence filled with chemicals down your lungs is now a calm and beautiful thing.

Open your eyes smile, for life  itself is a gift, filled with beauty.

GROW (Guiding the Recovery of Women)

GROW (Guiding the Recovery of Women)

SANCA in co-operation with the Department of Social Development trained professionals to understand and implement the GROW curriculum.

Research on women and substance abuse high-lights the following:

· Women respond differently to treatment than men, particularly to programs designed for men

· Women abuse substances at different rates and for different motivations than men

· Women use different substances and for different reasons than men

· Gender responsiveness requires programs specifically geared to meet the needs of women, who experience substance abuse differently than men on many levels

· The programs must be culturally sensitive

· Intersection of gender expectations within culture are important to consider when adapting treatment program to different populations

· Programs must take into account family and children

· There are many risk factors and co-occurring disorders (e.g. a history of traumatic exposure) and consequences (interference with parenting) of substance abuse that are unique for women.

· Service barriers exist for women differently than for men. Substance abusing mothers also experience unique barriers to receiving the services they need to recover, such as absence of child care and lack of gender specific treatment in their communities. 

Women’s substance abuse is different with regard to the following:

· Addiction occurs more rapidly for women

· Frequently involves more than one mood-altering substance

· Produces serious medical consequences over a briefer period of time

· Women are more likely to have co-morbid psychiatric disorders

· Women are more likely to be victims of violence, physical abuse, domestic violence and rape

      - According to Mondanaro etal.(1982) 46% of all drug-dependent women have been victims of rape

      - 28% to 44% have been victims of incest

      - Studies indicate these percentages are significantly higher for incarcerated women.(80% have experienced

        some form of abuse)

Grow is designed to:

· Empower women

· Help her to trust and bond with other women

· When possible to strengthen a women’s relationship with her children and to reunify with her family

· Help women develop coping skills needed to build a productive and self-sufficient future. The  following skills are needed: parenting; controlling anger and stress (without chemicals); learning to identify personal cues of relapse; managing budgets and educational/vocational and non stereotyped job training.