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what we've done - looked
after children
In
1998 CDEP identified a Council's role as a parent for young people
in care required support in order to improve service to young
people. Those in care have long been identified as having a higher
level of recreational drug use and a higher incidence of problematic
drug use than the general population, and as such should be regarded
as a priority group for drugs education.
CDEP's
Continuing Objectives
To
provide support and education about drugs to young people in care
by:
- Increasing
the ability of foster carers to communicate with, educate and
support young people in their care about drugs.
- Increasing
the ability of fostering and adoption staff to support foster
carers in relation to drug education and dealing with drug related
incidents.
- Increasing
the knowledge and understanding of drug related issues of all
professionals working with young people in care and leaving
care.
- Developing
policy and practice guidelines around drugs education and dealing
with drug related incidents.
- Increasing
the knowledge and under- standing of drug related issues of
all professionals working with young people in care and leaving
care.
Work Completed in Lewisham
Two
one-day courses for foster carers covering drugs awareness, talking
to young people about drugs and dealing with drug related incidents.
These courses were carried out as part of the main fostering training
programme.
A
one-day course on basic drugs awareness ad supporting foster carers
in relation to drug issues for the Fostering and Adoption staff
team.
Ongoing Work
CDEP
is involved with ongoing policy groups in Lewisham and is piloting
further training for foster carers.
For
further information about work with looked after children :
In Lewisham contact simone@drugsinfo.org.uk
In Southwark and Lambeth contact sarah@drugsinfo.org.uk
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