UNODC Supports Family Skills Training Programmes In Iran |
TEHRAN, 27 November 2013 (UNIC)—Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Leik Boonwaat said here Tuesday that evidence-based parenting skills and family skills training programmes have been found to be the most effective way to prevent substance use among children and adolescents. Addressing the award giving ceremony to appreciate the efforts of Mr. Bijan Birang, the Director of the educational film “Parenting: Healthy Youth”, Boonwaat said that these programmes offer skills-building for parents on monitoring and supervision of children's' activities, communication as well as setting age appropriate limits. He added that the programmes improve family functioning, organization, communication and interpersonal relationships and have been found to have multiple positive outcomes for children and adolescents including decreased drug use, increased child attachment to school and academic performance, decreased child depression and aggression, increased child social competence and pro-social behaviour and decrease family conflicts. He pointed out that the UNODC Country Office of Iran as part of its efforts to promote evidence-based practice has initiated to support family skills training programmes in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2005, such as developing “Healthy Youth" package for schools, covering students, teachers as well as parents; Package on "Parenting", developed for rural areas; Package on "Positive Parenting is Prevention" (aged 10–13); Package for Parents of High Risk Students (aged 13–16); Families and Schools Together (FAST), (aged 5-6); Family Strengthening Programme (SFP), (aged 6-11 and current educational film for "Healthy Youth" (aged 10-13). Also speaking at the ceremony, Director General of International Relations Office of the Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran (DCHQ) Mahmoud Bayat said DCHQ in its efforts to fight against narcotic drugs implements drug demand reduction projects which are based on increasing public awareness, enhancing public knowledge and developing public life skills. |
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