Rosalie Porcelin, a licensed social worker in the city of General Santos in the southern Philippines, begins her day with a prayer for strength, perseverance, and faith that will help her clients. He has been doing social work for 23 years.
Following a national campaign against illegal drugs in 2016, Porcelin was appointed coordinator of the city’s Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDR) to address an increase in drug use (PWUD). seeking treatment, particularly negotiators, those imprisoned for drug use who may be released after completing a CBDR program.
“When I got into this role, I didn’t know how to start. We used all the tools available to detect clients’ drug use and run outpatient programs, “Porcelin said.
Collaboration with the private sector
At the time Porcelin became involved in the city’s CBDR programming, the SeaOil Foundation, a fuel company with facilities in General Santos City, was interested in addressing the problem of illegal drugs through their corporate social responsibility efforts. SeaOil Foundation Executive Director Jess Lorenzo contacted Santos Mayor Ronnel Rivera, who led the Likhay Drug Drug Prevention Program, which had received the 2017 Galing Pook Award for Innovative Practices of local government units.
“We were especially interested in rebuilding trust during the disruptive, divisive, and deadly context of the war on drugs,” Lorenzo said. The SeaOil Foundation previously supported another localized version of a family drug abuse prevention program.
General Santos had used the Matrix intensive outpatient program for his clients before 2019, however, clients were leaving due to the length of the program. The city needed a CBDR program for low- and moderate-risk customers, according to Porcelin and his team. I also wanted a grassroots program where barangays, or villages, could help customers and their families.
The right program for the community
Determined to find a treatment program for people in their community, Mayor Ronnel Rivera and the SeaOil Foundation approached the USAID RenewHealth Project implemented by the URC. RenewHealth aims to expand access to the CBDR by building the capacity of local government units to deliver compassionate, evidence-based treatment. The project recommended the use of a culturally adapted and evidence-informed Katatagan program, Kalusugan a Damayan ng Komunidad (KKDK), or the Resilience, Health, and Community Care program, which offers drug recovery and skills sessions. to family life and development. This program was endorsed by the Interagency Committee on Illegal Drugs in the Dangerous Drugs Board as a model for local government units.
In December 2019, General Santos City, SeaOil Foundation and USAID signed a memorandum of understanding to formally launch the KKDK program in the city. Although USAID agreed to provide technical expertise, the SeaOil Foundation is committed to supporting the training of CBDR facilitators and funding the construction of a new outpatient facility. General Santos City pledged to implement an evidence-based and compassionate CBDR program to serve the customers of its 26 barangays and allocated land to Barangay Tambler for General Santos’ rehabilitation and substance abuse facility. City.
That same month, training began for Porcelin and more than 100 CBDR facilitators from the city’s 26 barangays. Meanwhile, the SeaOil Foundation began construction on the new building.
“I knew we had finally found the right program for our customers and started using it right away!” Porcelin said.
Collaboration to meet customer needs
At that time there were more than 4,000 clients in the city who needed CBDR treatment. Many were negotiators. During the first year of the KKDK program, the number of clients who examined, enrolled, and completed CBDR programs more than doubled.
“Because we were finally implementing a culturally sensitive CBDR program that was appropriate for moderating at-risk clients, in just 16 weeks, we produced graduates who completed our CBDR program,” Porcelin said. The number of clients examined increased by 120%, those enrolled by 180% and those who completed treatment increased by 90%.
Lorenzo said: “The partnership between SeaOil Foundation, General Santos City Local Government and USAID is an example of how government, the private sector and international development agencies can work together to establish systems that provide care and deliver results. clear “.
Paying forward
Among those treated were Fritz, a former drug user who was jailed for six years before joining the first group of negotiators to complete the CBR program.
“The modules of the KKDK program taught me to avoid the triggers of drug use, as well as to communicate assertively and say no to drugs,” Fritz said. “More importantly, it reinforced the importance of family support. But my journey does not end here. Now I want to help others like me who need rehabilitation and treatment. “
Fritz now helps those who want to be involved in the negotiation of guilt and the treatment of CBDR. He helps facilitate the KKDK program in his barangay and is president of the Federation of Community Drug-Free People in General Santos City.
The future looks brighter
There is hope for others like Fritz, as the local government of General Santos City remains committed to providing CBDR services. Meanwhile, the SeaOil Foundation has just completed the construction of the outpatient facility, which includes private counseling rooms, a training center and a gym. The building will be open in 2022.
Porcelin concludes: “My passion is to help people. When I see the change in my clients, when they can recover and live a normal life without fear, this is my biggest success. Seeing them live decently with their families and become productive members of their communities proves that recovery is possible with the CBDR. “
For more information on CBDR, you can visit https://www.facebook.com/BawatSimulaCBDR/.
ADVT
Read more stories from the global nation:
33 Robinsons Malls are vaccination centers
Partners vs. Crime: GCash, NBI effort leads to major fraud
Embracing change, transforming lives through community-based drug rehabilitation
Subscribe to our global newsletter
Read Next
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to access The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download them as early as 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
