Mission Statement

"We strive to keep schools safe from substance abuse in all its forms and from all stakeholders. This stance warrants the planning and implementation of preventive strategies and interventions for students, school staff and parents."

The Main objectives include:

Consultation Service: Offering assistance to schools whenever cases of alleged substance abuse occur. Providing technical advice on matters of policy and procedures regarding school referrals.

Intervention: Identifying of those who have indulged in illegal – inappropriate use of substance and those individuals who have indulged in the first use of substances in order to assess if their behaviour can be reversed through education. Assisting individuals and/or groups who are abusing and/or who are at risk of substance abuse including participating in case conferences.

Co-ordination and Monitoring: Serving as a link between schools and service delivery units of Student Services in DSSIR and/or other agencies/professionals outside the Education Division.

Prevention: Participating, together with sedqa and the PSD team, in prevention programmes. Offering activities to students, parents and other individuals in order to prevent risk and to reduce harm resulting from substance abuse. This includes the Family Strategies Programme (FSP) which is aimed at families to develop skills in parents such that they are better equipped to instil in their children's lives a healthy lifestyle. Aiming at promoting awareness amongst the general public, especially through the media.

Information: Giving to all stakeholders in the educational process regarding the measures to be taken by the schools when substance is found or abused in schools. Participating in service and professional development training.

Referrals: This team refers to parents, teachers, heads of schools, student service professionals, social workers, school psychologists, members of the medical profession, sedqa and also non government organisation such as CARITAS and OASI.

Research: Compiling research in the area of substance abuse in schools. This includes the production of case studies as well as evaluation studies of prevention programmes. An evaluation study of the Substance Abuse Policy is currently being finalised.