Training Criminal Justice Professionals in Harm Reduction Services for Vulnerable Groups

Transcription

1 Caren Weilandt WIAD, Bonn, Germany The TCJP Project (12/ /2010) Training Criminal Justice Professionals in Harm Reduction Services for Vulnerable Groups This action was funded by the European Commission, Public Health Programme, Work Plan 2007, Addressed strand: 3. Health determinants

2 Project Network Project leader: WIAD (Scientific Institute of the Medical Association of German Doctors), Bonn, Germany Beneficiaries BCU (Birmingham City University), Birmingham, England Association of Varna Organizations for Drug Prevention (AVODP), Varna, Bulgaria Promovarea Dreptului la Sanatate (Romania) Papardes zieds (Latvia s Association for Family Planning and Sexual Health), Riga, Latvia 2

3 Collaborative partners and steering group members Azienda ULSS 16 di Padova, Padova, Italy Ministry of Justice, Vilnius, Lithuania Department of Prisons in the Ministry of Justice), Talinn, Estonia Milano Court of Appeal, Milano, Italy UNODC Project Office for the Baltic States, Vilnius, Lithuania, WHO, Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark 3

4 General objective of the project Develop and improve the training for professionals working in the CJS on the front line with problematic drug users specifically aiming at the subsequent implementation and sustainability of HR programmes for vulnerable groups to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases 4

5 Specific objectives (1/2) To identify existing professional training packs used in criminal justice settings and gather European expertise To identify professionals working in the CJS and related organisations who have a key role with problematic drug users in order to establish: the gaps in current training provision for CJS professionals; their awareness of services available for problematic drug users; their experience of existing training programmes that address the needs of problematic drug users who are detained; their ideas, suggestions and recommendations for improvements needed for current training provision 5

6 Specific objectives (2/2) To gather the views of those with problematic drug use who have experience of the criminal justice system about what areas should be included in a training module in order to meet their specific needs while in detention To develop and pilot a training concept and materials in three of the associated partner countries To disseminate the results of the project and subsequent training concept and materials to European stakeholders and experts 6

7 Method and means Target group: police officers, prosecutors, magistrates, prison staff, probation staff, representatives from NGOs Coverage: Partner countries, all other EU MS Intervention category: Development and testing of training matarial 7

8 Activities, Method and means 1 (besides Coordination, dissemination and evaluation) Gathering of European Expertise: Extensive document and literature analysis of existing policies, protocols and training in order to identify gaps in provision Qualitative and quantitative research: Intensive explorative field studies in the beneficiary countries including expert interviews with professionals in the field (from the police, courts, prison services, NGOs, etc) with face to face interviews telephone interviews focus groups with service users (prisoners) Quantitative questionnaires for staff and prisoners (needs assessment) 8

9 Activities, Method and means 2 Development and testing of training concept and material: summarising and prioritising the results of the qualitative and quantitative research into a written training manual Piloting and testing of the manuals in the beneficiary countries Translation of the final manuals into the national languages of all associated partners, i.e. from English to Bulgarian, German, Latvian and Romanian 9

10 Results achieved/ main outputs: Training manual ( Modular approach and flexible structure adaptation to the needs of specific target audiences Introduction (methodology, target group etc) Core modul on harm reduction 10 additional modules (Concepts and models of drug dependence, Infectious diseases, Mental health and drug use, Young people and drug use, Women prisoners, Foreign prisoners, Ethnic minority prisoners, Sexuality, Cooperation with NGOs, Health and Safety of Staff) Annexes(forms, templates, handouts etc) PowerPoint presentations 10

11 Results/outcomes Short term changes in individual knowledge and skills of prison staff that follow the training changes in social norms and attitudes towards problematic drug and alcohol users encouragement for criminal justice agencies to develop specific interventions, and make changes in policy to include harm reduction into training for professionals in the criminal justice system 11

12 Results/outcomes Long term changes in detainees health behaviours changes in environmental conditions in police detention facilities and prisons direct and indirect impact on health and improved attitudes towards those with problematic drug and alcohol use 12

13 Lessons learned/ opportunities The project/toolkit/training programme enables prison staff to better meet and understand the needs of problematic drug users contributes to preventing the spread of infectious diseases and other health problems associated with drugs use impacts on wider social problems, such as crime, unemployment and social deprivation. 13

14 The way forward: Need for... Expansion and broader application of training resources Engage the public sector Develop, standardize and accredit resources and national trainers to meet workforce needs Pre-existing training institutions and agencies should be involved (medical and health training faculties; national centres for education, research; police academies etc.) Collaborative effort to identify and utilize existing public/private health sector training facilities and services to help develop country workforces Development of regional level training centres or knowledge hubs for providing or facilitating provision of standardized and accredited HR modules for different occupational trainee groups 14

15 Thank you for your attention! 15