The Regional Secretary for Health highlighted today the importance of the new programme "Preventing in Family and in the Community," whose training session began today in Ponta Delgada. It is line with the regional strategy to promote healthy living habits and prevention of risk behaviours.
"This project is aimed at the promotion of parental skills, covering children aged between 6 and 11. We will involve the whole family in this process," said the government official.
The programme was developed by the Regional Directorate for Prevention and Control of Dependencies. The initiative includes the adaptation of the Family Skills Programme to the Azores, which had already been adapted to the Iberian reality by the University of the Balearic Islands - Spain. It is intended to strengthen the protective factors in the family and to reduce risk factors.
This is one of the priorities of the Regional Government's programme regarding the need to support families facing problems related to addictive behaviour and dependencies.
It is a pioneering initiative in the country, whose basis of intervention has already been referenced as an effective strategy for the prevention of drug use and abuse by the European Union.
For three days, professionals working in the areas of health, social solidarity, education and private social solidarity institutions will attend the training courses held under this initiative.
The training course is being taught by Professor Luis Ballester from the University of the Balearic Islands. He graduated in Sociology and in Social Work.
"This is a project that demonstrates the interaction between the various departments of the Government. It represents the areas of health, dependencies, social solidarity and education and, in his context, our action will take into account this common basis," explained Rui Luís.
The programme, which begins to be implemented in September, will be focused on selective prevention initiatives in the first two years. They will be directed to families of children facing alcohol and tobacco consumption problems.
"The main goal is to improve family relationships and help families understanding the problem they have so that they may be able to change behaviours," stressed the government official.
In a second phase, the intervention will be carried out according to territorial needs and according to the study on dependencies that is being conducted by a working group of the University of the Azores.
Rui Luís believes that "it will be possible to take action in all parts of the territory during the year 2018. The interventions will vary depending on the degree of priority, characteristics and needs of this territory itself."