Objectives: To understand how and to what extent drop-in centres are associated with the physical and mental health and substance use status of street children in New Delhi. Methods: In a qualitative study, I interviewed 23 street children and two drop-in centre staff members in New Delhi. Subsequently, I conducted a cross-sectional study with 69 street children who attended centres and 65 street children who did not visit centres. I used questionnaires to assess their physical and mental health and substance use. Findings: Participants believed that because street children regularly visited drop-in centres, their health outcomes improved. Street children participated in drop-in services because staff members were nonjudgmental, they were free to be a child, their daily struggles were lessened, they received protection, they were given moral direction and they had an opportunity for a better life. However, children continued to live on the streets because street life had become normal. Quantitative findings showed that street children who visited centres had better physical and mental health outcomes and engaged in less substance use than street children who did not visit centres (p<0.01). For every month of attendance, street children experienced 2.1% (95% CI 0% to 4.1%, p=0.05) fewer ill health outcomes per month and used 4.6% (95% CI 1.3% to 8%, p=0.01) fewer substances. Street children were also less likely to have been a current substance user than a never substance user for every additional month at a center (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66 to 0.96, p=0.02). Duration of attendance was not significant in predicting mental health. Conclusion: According to participants, drop-in centres positively influence the physical and mental health and substance use status of street children by providing services in an environment tailored for them. Quantitatively, centres may improve the physical health of street children and reduce their substance use. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Street children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience poor health. Drop-in centres are one of most common interventions for street children; however, they have not been evaluated in LMICs. I aimed to understand how and how much drop-in centres influence the physical and mental health and substance use status of street children in New Delhi, India. Street children and drop-in centre staff members were interviewed about how they believed centres influenced the health and substance use habits of street children. Participants felt that drop-in centres improve children’s health and substance use habits because the centres provided services in an environment tailored for street children. I also used questionnaires to evaluate the impact of drop-in centre attendance on 69 street children who regularly came to centres and 65 street children who did not come to centres. Quantitatively, centres may improve the physical health and substance use status of street children.

The thesis focuses on one of the possible methods of the opioid addiction treatment, on the substitution therapy. It also describes specific form of substitution therapy in Ústí nad Labem, part of the particular low-threshold facility for drug users. The paper also briefly discusses opioid addiction and the options of its substitutional therapy in Ústí nad Labem (e.g. methadone therapy, buprenorfine therapy). The aim of this thesis is to evaluate life quality of substitutional therapy's clients in the low-threshold facility in Ústí nad Labem and compare those results with life quality of clients who are using buprenorfine obtained on the black market. Another goal is to use these findings to improve and expand services for this target group. The theoretical part briefly describes the opioid addiction and possible methods of its treatment, mainly substitutional therapy. The research evaluates the life quality of clients who are using buprenorfine and identifies problematic parts of their lives. Data were collected using WHOQOL - BREF questionnaire - anonymous questionnaire of World Health Organization. Sociodemographic and anamnestic data of clients of substitutional therapy were involved. The sample of the clients of substitutional therapy was compared with the control group which consists of...

College: Charles University in Prague Faculty: 1st Faculty of Medicine Clinic of addictology School year: 2011/2012 Abstract of the thesis Name: Bc. Zuzana Zástěrová Specialization: Addictology Head of the bachelor work: Mgr. Lenka Endrödiová Opponent: PhDr. Monika Nevoralová Pages: The name of the thesis: Selected personality traits associated with social inclusion of clients selected contact center Abstract The aim of my thesis is to specify the personality feature of contact center's clients and their association with the degree of social inclusion. A sub-objective is to identify the most common personality feature and associated with the use of addictive substances. The theoretical part of my thesis is particularly engaged in theme of personality definition, personality structure, selected personality theory, Jung's concept of personality, an indicator of personality types of Myers and Briggs, social exclusion and social inclusion, lifestyle drug users, research on the personality types of drug users. In the research part of my thesis there are mediate the answers to research guestions with the assistance of the statisstic analysis SPSS of the data. Data collection methods used are the MBTI questionnaire and selected questions from the questionnaire EuropASI. In discussion I consider the suitability...

The diploma thesis deals with the conflict that appeared after a drop-in centre for drug users was opened in the street Na Skalce in Prague 5 in April 2010. Local residents and politicians expressed their disapproval with the activities of the drop-in centre in the area that they defined as residential. The opposition based their arguments against drug services near recreational and educational facilities on the values of home, family, private property and perceived feeling of security. The primary conflict of local residents versus drug service providers was based on processes of ascribing negative characteristics to the group that was identified as unwanted in the community. Stigmatization and labelling of drug users were associated not only with drug users, but also with social workers who offer treatment and help to drug users. The data were collected from media messages and analysed by methods of the grounded theory.

<p><strong>Background –</strong> Universal family drop-in centres (drop-ins) are open to all children between the ages of zero and six and their carers regardless of ethnoracial make up and socioeconomic status. Provincially-funded drop-in centres offered by Aboriginal organizations address the need for culturally sensitive services for urban Aboriginal children (UAC) meanwhile promoting early learning opportunities for all children. Knowledge of factors that influence Aboriginal carers’ use of a culturally sensitive drop-in centre will inform policy-makers about the structures and resources required to ensure equitable access to drop-in centres for UAC.</p> <p><strong>Objectives – </strong>A pilot study to: 1) assess the feasibility of identifying and recruiting UAC with children between the ages of zero and six for optimal identification of the population in need of services; 2) describe the factors that influence the use of an Aboriginal early learning drop-in centre by carers of UAC between the ages of zero and six as perceived by service providers, users of the service, and non-users.</p> <p><strong>Methods –</strong> A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. A purposeful sample of 12 participants was selected. All service providers were invited to participate. Snowball sampling was used for users; convenience sampling was used for non-users. Semi-structured interviews with all participants were used to collect data. Directed content analysis was used with the Availability-Affordability-Acceptability framework for access to services to analyze interview data. Interviews between groups were compared and contrasted to confirm findings. During the research process, field notes of observations and reflections were recorded to address feasibility issues.</p> <p><strong>Results –</strong> Of the 12 eligible carers approached, 10 carers consented. Of the ten, nine carers were interviewed (4 users; 5 non-users). Recommendations for large-scale study protocol were: use of three categories of carers (current users; previous users; non-users); include non-Aboriginal carers of UAC in the sample population; recruit carers who live in the same neighbourhood where the service is located; provide detailed instructions for recruitment to gatekeepers. Key findings of the factors influencing use of the service were proximity of service to carer’s home, the carer and child having unstructured time, the type of Aboriginal-based content offered at the service, the carer’s trust of service providers, presence of social support, and carer’s sense of safety.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions –</strong> This pilot study suggests that conducting a large-scale study to identify factors that influence the use of an Aboriginal-based universal family drop-in centre as perceived by carers of urban Aboriginal children and service providers of the service is feasible with some methodological modifications. Recommendations for change are outlined.</p> <p><strong><br /></strong></p> / Master of Science (MSc)

PAZDEROVÁ, H. Analysis of social workers education in non-state non-profit organisations. Prague: Faculty of Art, Charles University, 2016, p. 67. Diploma work. The thesis describes the possibilities in profesional development of social workers in drop-in centres for youth and children in Czech Republic considering the increase of quality standards in providing social services. In theoretical part of the thesis there is a focus on social work specifications as a profession in context of czech social politics especially in non-state non-profit sector which offers space for organizations providing quality social services. Then we deal with the possibilities of social workers professional development via various forms of supervision or other education. Exploratory inquiry aims to concrete possibilities of professional development from the point of view of social workers in drop-in centres for youth and children in Czech Republic regarding to valid Standards of quality in providing social services regulation. The methods of document analysis and online survey are used in the thesis.

Introduction:. In 2014, there were 180 thousand problematic users of drugs in the Czech Republic. Action plan of the realisation of National strategy of anti-drug politics in the Czech Republic concentrates on lowering the degree and risk of marijuana usage, while in the first period no specific programs for target group have been realised. In 2015, 2400 marijuana consumers were using low-threshold treatment programs. Topic of cannabis related drug users in drop-in centres and outreach programs appears at the expert meetings, though there is a lack of systematically developed material, which would be include good practice of low- threshold treatment programs for the target group. Aim: Primary aim of thesis is to provide a qualitative analysis of opinions of drop-in centers and outreach programs employees in Prague and Central Bohemian region regarding the possibility of offering harm reduction and therapeutic interventions to cannabis users. Thesis could serve as a summary of good practice of harm reduction services in the Czech Republic and become a material that could help individual services in the formulation of concept, respectively in changing and evaluating the work with cannabis users. Methodology: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and were subsequently analysed using...

Background: Injecting drug use is one of the most risky forms of substance use that carries risks for individuals and society. The Czech Republic is one of the countries where the prevalence of injecting drug use is high and increasing. The available data show that learning to inject has, among other things, a social character. Exploring these social circumstances, as well as the personal experiences of people who inject drugs, can be a tool for designing and implementing appropriate prevention interventions. One of these effective interventions is the Break the Cycle method, which refers to the initiation of injecting as a phenomenon that can be transmitted to inexperienced persons on the basis of social learning. Reducing the assistance of experienced persons in the initiation of injection to inexperienced persons, reducing injection in front of inexperienced persons, and refusing to discuss the benefits of injection with inexperienced persons can have a positive impact on the incidence of injection use in the Czech population. Aims and Methods: The aim of this study is to provide information on the essential phenomena related to the initiation of injection drug use and to explore the experience of clients of the Prague contact centre with their initiation of injection use and their experiences...

The purpose of the study was to investigate the services provided by the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Qualitative research design and in-depth interviews with key informants and foster parents of the OVCs were conducted. The study found that the services which are provided by the Centre enabled the orphans and vulnerable children to enjoy life as normally as possible and to experience life meaningfully. As beneficiaries of the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre the children had access to education and two meals per day. Beyond meeting such basic needs, the study also found that Centre instilled a sense of belonging and community in the children. Access to social grants enabled the children’s basic needs to be met. In addition foster parents played a crucial role in taking care of orphans and vulnerable children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the services provided by the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Qualitative research design and in-depth interviews with key informants and foster parents of the OVCs were conducted. The study found that the services which are provided by the Centre enabled the orphans and vulnerable children to enjoy life as normally as possible and to experience life meaningfully. As beneficiaries of the Bhambayi Drop-In Centre the children had access to education and two meals per day. Beyond meeting such basic needs, the study also found that Centre instilled a sense of belonging and community in the children. Access to social grants enabled the children’s basic needs to be met. In addition foster parents played a crucial role in taking care of orphans and vulnerable children. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)