New lifeline to youths with behaviour problems

Teenagers at risk of being exposed to substance misuse or other anti-social behaviour will be thrown a lifeline by means of Sedqa's new Teen Support Outreach.

This service, which will be launched in the coming months, will identify and engage with highly vulnerable groups, in the 13- and 16- age bracket, in a psycho-social-educational manner. The idea is to reach between 140 and 180 young people every six weeks.

It is estimated that, of these, 10 per cent will need further assistance.

The service is one of several new projects and improved services offered by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, within the Social Solidarity Ministry. The initiative, which sees the involvement of Sedqa and Appogg, was launched yesterday by Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina and foundation chief executive Joe Gerada to coincide with National Youth Day.

The idea is to adopt a multi-disciplinary strategy involving various professionals from the two agencies in collaboration with external entities such as the Department of Education, the Employment and Training Corporation, the Probation Services, and other voluntary organisations.

Ms Cristina spoke about the importance of providing more personalised services so that residential care would be a last resort.

"Today's initiative is a perfect example of how a holistic approach can lead to great results for the benefit of service users," she said.

"Providing troubled young people with an integrated service ensures a better welfare service and achieves more positive results.

"This launch shows the interconnectedness between these two entities and the way new structures and systems can be created for the benefit of the most vulnerable in society," she added.

Ms Cristina also referred to the launch of a campaign next week in connection with new legislation regulating alcohol consumption by those the under-16s.

Mr Gerada emphasised how Appogg and Sedqa were integrating their initiatives to strengthen the quality of their services, make them more comprehensive and increase resources to cover a wider spectrum of young people at risk.

Asked if there was a particular problem that surfaced recently, Mr Gerada said an emerging concern was online gambling, which was becoming increasingly accessible, providing instant gratification.

Appogg offers a Youth Outreach Programme that provides intensive intervention to people with very challenging behaviour aged between 13 and 18. A more holistic approach will be adopted to include the services of a youth worker and a psychologist.

Sedqa Teen Support Service offers intervention services to adolescents who are either self-referred or referred by their school because of substance abuse-related difficulties.

Specialised personnel will identify and engage people at risk in small group sessions in schools, building a rapport to get to them before they engage in substance abuse.

This pooling of resources, together with collaboration with external services, will also lead to two initiatives aimed at a particular sub-section of young people at risk.

The first is budZ, a highly structured intensive programme aimed at those at risk or already engaged in criminal activity and/or delinquent behaviour. The other is the Young Adolescent Programme, for those aged between 11 and 13 who present a very high social risk, but because of their young age, are not eligible under the Appogg Youth Service Outreach.

For more information log on to www.sedqa.gov.mt, www.appogg.gov.mt or www.mfss.gov.mt. Otherwise call Helpline 151 or Supportline 179.