Health Promotion for Young Prisoners Caren Weilandt, Scientific Institute of the Medical Association of German Doctors, Bonn, Germany Funded by the Public Health Programme of the European Commission (2008-2013), Work Plan 2009, 01.04.2010-31.03.2013 www.hpyp.eu
Project Network 2 Coordinator WIAD (Scientific Institute of the Medical Association of German Doctors), Bonn, Germany Beneficiaries Association of Varna Organizations for Drug Prevention (AVODP), Varna, Bulgaria Birmingham City University (BCU), Birmingham, UK Convictus Eesti, Tallinn, Estonia Latvia's Association for Family Planning and Sexual Health Papardes zieds, Riga, Latvia Promovarea Dreptului la Sanatate (Promoting the Right to Health (PDS)), Bucharest, Romania University of Prague, Centre for Addictology, Prague, Czech Republic
Steering group and advisory board members European AIDS Treatment Group European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA G.A.T.-Grupo Portugues de Activistas sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA-Pedro Santos Offender Health Team, Department of Health, England Osservatorio Carcere, ASL 16 di Padova 3
Background Widespread health problems of prisoners Young prisoners have needs distinct from other prisoners are more disadvantaged than their counterparts in the community showing negative impacts on their health There is a clear need for prisons to respond with health promotion interventions for young prisoners to address health inequalities endorsing the principle that time spent in custody should aid disease prevention and promote health. 4
General objective of the project Develop and improve health promotion for young vulnerable people in the prison setting Implementation of a health promotion toolkit for young prisoners widely across European Member States Toolkit shall address health related factors like infectious diseases, sexual health, mental health, prevention and treatment of drug use 5
Specific objectives To identify existing health promotion approaches for young prisoners in the MS Identifying young prisoners' views in order to understand their specific needs and demands re HP Identifying prison staff's and NGOs staff's views in order to get to know about their current role in health promotion and their needs To evaluate existing health promotion practice To develop and pilot a toolkit on health promotion for young prisoners 6
Target group Young people (up to 24 years old) in the prison setting in pre- and sentenced prisons including particular vulnerable groups like women, migrants, ethnic minorities and problem drug users 7
Methods and Means Coordination, Dissemination, Evaluation Gathering of European Expertise Evaluation of existing practice on health promotion in prison Development and piloting of the toolkit on health promotion for young prisoners 8
Gathering of European Expertise Step 1: Kick-off meeting in Luxembourg in order to refine the project s focus and purpose and agree on responsibilities Document and literature analysis of existing policies, protocols and toolkits by each partner in its country establish what current practice and policies exist in providing health promotion for young prisoners 9
Evaluation of existing practice on health promotion in prison Step 2 - Presentation and discussion of the outcomes of the literature reviews Development of questionnaires for the needs assessment as well as interview guidelines Step 3 Extensive explorative field studies in the beneficiary countries including at least 100 young prisoners per partner country in a needs assessment by means of an anonymous questionnaire at least three focus groups with young people in the prison setting further exploring questions arising from the needs assessment at least 30 members of prison staff and members of NGOs in a needs assessment by means of an anonymous questionnaire 10-12 qualitative interviews with prison staff and members of NGOs further exploring their role and needs in providing health promotion Output: National Reports and summary of key findings from all countries 10
Step 4: Development and piloting of the toolkit Presentation and discussion of the outcomes of the field studies Refine steps for the development of the toolkit Coordinator summarised and prioritised the results of the field studies in order to develop an evidence based toolkit for the implementation of health promotion for young prisoners Draft version of the toolkit piloted, process report produced by all partners by the end of the piloting phase Adjustment of the final version and dissemination 11
Results achieved/main outputs Health promotion toolkit (see hpyp.eu/toolkits) Modular toolkit with flexible structure to be adapted to the specific needs/settings/ressources/target groups With very many practical material to be used for exercises, teaching, role play, information, handouts and other specific interventions Available in 10 langages 12
Language Versions Partner Countries Bulgarian Czech German Estonian Latvian Romanian Photo toolkit cover einfügen Other languages Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish 13
Content 14
Structure of each module WHAT Introduction of the issue covered in the module, background information, reference to international rules and legislation as well as to structural issues inside prisons WHY outlines the evience and benefits of implementing the topic WHO target group and level of skills needed by the fascilitator HOW Core part, describes how the topics can be translated into activities and interventions Plus reference to good practice, further reading 15
Lessons learnt - opportunities Young prisoners are a very vulnerable group with specific health promotion needs YP are very interested in health related issues and are eager to learn and practice Important: participatory approaches! Keep them involved and make them take over responsibility Sustainability issues: How to further promote the implementation of HP activities inside prisons after projects have been completed?? 16