CYC promotes the use of evidence based good practice in relation to prevention education and, in the near future, CYC will adopt the Drug Education Workers Forum (DEWF) Drug Education Quality Standards, recently endorsed by the National Drug Strategy Team.

Summary of Prevention Education work in CYC

Prevention Education Related Training

Substance Use Policy

CYC Supports Available for Staff

CYC Publications and Resources

Future Plans.

Summary of Prevention Education work in CYC

Drug Prevention work in CYC varies across the Regional Youth Services and the approaches include the following:

1. Primary projects with a specific drug prevention education remit;
2. Staff with drug related remit;
3. Prevention Education related training;
4. Work which has included substance related content;
5. As part of an overall health promotion programme;
6. Inclusion of substance related issues in a youth group's discussion programme; and
7. As a specific programme taken on by a club.

CYC has three dedicated drug education teams in Bray, Finglas and Swords/Baldoyle and supports the development of The Parachute Programme in the Dun Laoghaire region. In addition CYC has six Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDP) and while their focus is on the prevention of offending, they endeavour to address the issue of substance use with the participants of the projects.

Awareness F/C

• Awareness Finglas/Cabra is based in Finglas Youth Service, the team has been in existence since 1998.
• The team delivers a Prevention Education Programme to Sixth Classes in the Finglas/Cabra Local Drugs Task Force Area;
• Provides support to local youth clubs and summer projects in the Finglas Area;
• Operates clubs that include prevention education in their programme; and
• Provides support to local groups and clubs in the delivery of prevention education

Bray Drug Education Team and Forum

• Based out of Bray Youth Service, the team consists of one full time and one part time development officer and has been in existence since 2002;
  The team delivers a Prevention Education Programme to Sixth Classes in the Bray Local Drugs Task Force Area;
• Supports the operation of the Bray Drug Education Forum including the organisation of a Drug Awareness month in November that offers a wide range of activities and caters for all ages; and
• Provides support in the delivery of prevention education to local Youth Clubs

Swords/Baldoyle

• Swords Youth Service has recently started their prevention education programme in the autumn of 2006 and is currently piloting a number of programmes with groups of young people.

The Parachute Programme

• Dun Laoghaire Youth Service (CYC) supports the delivery of The Parachute Programme – Prevention Through Play across Youth Clubs and Groups in the Region;
• This programme is co-ordinated by a part time development officer;
• The programme is a drug misuse prevention programme primarily aimed at children aged between 5 - 11yrs (divided into three separate age-appropriate modules);
• The programme is based on the use of play to explore the ideas of self-esteem, staying safe, being healthy and being aware drugs;
• The programme is presented to children in an age-appropriate way with the emphasis on fun and games; and
• Following on from The Parachute Programme, are 'issued-based' drama workshops, aimed at young people aged 12+. This involves a short play followed by a workshop session allowing the young people to explore the issues raised by the performance.

GYDP

• CYC has Six Garda Youth Diversion Projects in Finglas, Ronanstown, Clondalkin, Bray, Loughlinstown and Sandyford; and
• A seventh project is currently in the establishment phase and will be based out of Ronanstown Youth Service with Quarryvale as the Catchment Area.

Staff with drug related remit

A number of staff in CYC across the regions are funded by Local Drugs Task Forces and the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund. Staff have included substance related modules in the work they undertake with local young people, both as part of an overall Health Promotion Programme or as specific prevention programmes. Outside of formal programmes, the issue of substance use regularly arises with the young people accessing the programmes. The work undertaken informally can range from informal discussions, to accessing supports or referring young people and/or their families to relevant services where available.

Prevention Education related training

• CYC offers training to staff and volunteers number of ways including:
• Prevention Education basic awareness training delivered by both Crosscare Drug Awareness Programme & CYC;
• Substance Use Issues in Youth Work [FETAC];
• Induction training module on substance use and prevention education; and
• Training on related issues in support of the delivery of prevention education work including, facilitation skills, conflict management and bullying.

Support to volunteers

• Sourcing information and resource materials;
• Drug Awareness sessions for committee members and Youth Leaders; and
• Conflict Management and Awareness Sessions on Bullying;

CYC have a Co-ordinator of Drugs Initiatives who is responsible for the co-ordination, support and training of CYC staff on alcohol and drug related issues in addition to supporting the Garda Youth Diversion Projects and all staff on substance use/offending related issues; and

• CYC is represented on the Drug Education Workers Forum which has recently developed Drug Education Quality Standards based on research and policy, for use in drugs education in the sphere of school, youth work and community.

 CYC Publications & Resources

1. CYC, Drug Education and Prevention Programme for primary schools – facilitators’ guidelines;
2. Morgan, M. (1999) Awareness FC Drugs Prevention Programme – An Evaluation 1999; and
3. Dun Laoghaire Youth Service (2004) Follow Your Heart Parachute Programme – Prevention Drug Misuse Prevention Through Play, 5-6/7-9 and 10-11 years

For additional information on any the projects below contact the Co-ordinator of Drugs initiatives for CYC (01-8725055) or the relevant Regional Youth Service.