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sean douglas
Approximately 8,602 people received some form of state-funded family counseling in 2021, according to the Department of Social Development and Family Services’ 2021 Annual Administrative Report submitted to the House of Representatives on Oct. 2.
The National Family Services Administration was established in 1991 to promote healthy family functioning by providing “preventive, developmental, and remedial” programs and services, according to the report. “Total number of people receiving psychosocial support – 8,602 people.
“Couples and families benefited from the following services: counseling (4,724), co-parenting counseling (457), advocacy (601), and advice/information (2,820).
Three online parenting workshops provided information on positive parenting practices, the report said.
71 people registered for the parenting workshop for men, of which 46 were selected, 35 of whom participated, and 34 received a certificate.
152 people registered for the workshop “Parenting in a Pandemic”, of whom 69 participated (20 men and 49 women) and 61 (19 men and 30 women) received a certificate.
108 people registered for the co-parenting workshop, of which 55 (20 men and 35 women) participated and 49 (19 men and 30 women) received a certificate.
Sixty-eight people enrolled in the grandparenting workshop, of which 61 attended at least one session. Approximately 53 people (6 men and 47 women) received certificates. Participants ranged in age from 29 to 75 years old.
The department hosted 21 radio programs, “It’s Family Time, Let’s Talk.”
The department held modules on parenting (three sessions) and domestic violence (two sessions) for prison inmates.
According to the report, participants included 18 female inmates (14 adult females and 4 juvenile females) and 10 male inmates.
The department also introduced its Family Friday initiative, which provides 29 helpful tips on family life and parenting, on the department’s Facebook page.
18 virtual outreach sessions were also offered.
The report also referred to the ministry’s social displacement division’s “assessment, care and rehabilitation” work.
“When we investigated the number of people living on the streets nationwide, we found that a total of 327 people were sleeping on the streets.”
Some 21 public reports about people living on the streets were taken up and investigated, the report added, without providing details.
Approximately 245 people received referrals to substance abuse rehabilitation.
Otherwise, the unit conducted 309 in-office social work interventions. 19 older people received accommodation under community care and otherwise supported her 71 residents in 18 aged care facilities across the country.
Regarding drug abuse, the report said that in the same year, about seven people graduated from the Piparo Empowerment Center, which provides residential treatment and rehabilitation for male drug addicts using a therapeutic community model. Eleven new residents were enrolled there, four students completed their practicum, and 405 counseling sessions were conducted.
The Ministry’s HIV/AIDS Coordination Unit sensitized and educated 53 clients through the Hot Seat Initiative, promoted condom drives, and promoted the Carnival Karaoke Contest.
“Psychosocial support was provided to 28 people living with HIV/AIDS.”
