Life Skills Training Program

Up to this time, PICA could not stop thinking of the many disadvantaged young people yet,
who strongly wish to get at least the basic training in communication and computer skills –
as they express their need to find befitting jobs to support their families. Be that as it may,
the staff has to make priorities. It has to respond to the more urgent need of the time, that
is, to face the challenge posed by the government to the Catholic Church in the Philippines
today, that is, the rehabilitation of drug dependents.
It is sad to note that many of these victims are small-scale peddlers. They sell drugs to
others to get a parcel for free and a meager income to feed their families who are living a
hand-to-mouth existence. These poor people who resort to this illegal business are jobless,
many of whom are uneducated and ill-equipped to even qualify for a simple but decent job.

A new project titled “Life Skills Training Program”, is a three-month recovery program
using a psychosocial and spiritual approach to helping and guiding persons with addictive
disorder.We recognize the efforts of the government in putting up rehabilitation centers for the
thousands of drug users and pushers who have surrendered. But we cannot close our eyes
to the “extrajudicial killings” in the Philippines and much less keep silence about the
sedition charges against some well-respected Bishops and priests. The Church is also
accused of not helping in war against drugs – oblivious of the silent efforts of some dioceses
who are actively helping to rehabilitate drug dependents.
The Church is definitely for “healing – not for killing”. However, we may seem to be doing
very little to take the sting out of this toxic issue that besets our Filipino people and the
task is gargantuan for just one Institution to handle. It is for this reason that we, the
Paulines Institute of Communication in Asia, [PICA] Foundation, Inc. has decided to join
efforts with the local government in sharing our after-care service to the patients who are
recovering from drug dependency.

Project Description and Goals

Program Description: A plan of action designed as a psychosocial and spiritual intervention to help and guide persons with addictive disorder. The program also includes skills training for possible job opportunities after the rehabilitation program.

Objectives:

To foster healthy emotions, attitudes and habits.
To focus on the affirmation of the SELF.
To provide a job-related training to gain the knowledge and abilities necessary to find a job in the future.

To find the strength and inspiration from the Holy Bible through meditation and personal reflection.
To guide the participants toward recognizing and getting in touch with their inner self and higher consciousness – with the God whom they believe in and who has the ultimate power to change them for the better.

Nature of the Program: An After-care Service

Target Audience: Three groups of persons with substance use disorder who are on the way to recovery

Duration of the Program: Three Months [Daily – except Saturdays &

Sundays]

No. of Hours: 396 hours [6 hrs./day]

Methods of Instruction: Lecture-led method

Practical Exercise

Individual/Group work

Debriefing session

Reinforcement Activities

Manner of Presentation: A combination of chalk & talk, audio-visual and Group therapy

Expected Outcome: Even as we have completed this supplementary program designed for these people with addictive disorder, complete healing is far from expected. However, dovetailed with the ‘twelve-steps’ principles of Alcoholic Anonymous and a simple motivational incentive [skills training] the program may help the participants achieve complete abstinence from drug use and bring about personal health and well-being.

PROGRAM DESIGN

I. A Two-Day Spiritual Retreat –[for all the inmates]Following a balanced creative time and planned time for the following activities:

1. Reflective scripture-based meditation
  An activity that can help stimulate the power that enables one to change the course of his/her life – giving the person special strength and conviction for making changes in his/her life.

1. Journal writing
  Encouraging people to write down why they joined the retreat and what they hope to get out of it.

II. Enhancing Communication Skills. [for pre-departure candidates only] We believe that better “Communication Skills” are an essential part of true addiction recovery when providing help for drug rehabilitation.

1.Self-Awareness:

- - Strengths & Weaknesses
  - Communication Style
  - Personal Needs
  - Temperaments
  - Personality Test [MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)
  - Values clarification
  - Christian Values vs. Media Values

2.Recognizing and understanding certain situations that contribute to communication problems:

- - Childhood trauma
  - Failure to understand and misconception of another person’s point of view and/or behavior
  - Linguistic differences
  - Inaccurate assumptions and stereotypes
  - Cold shoulder from others
  - Deception and loss of trust
  - Poor listening skills
  - Cultural constraints [cognitive, behavioral, emotional]
  - Curative strategies

3. How to develop effective communication skills:

- - Improving the ability to listen
  - Keeping lines of communication open
  - Steering clear of obstacles to positive communication
  - Assertiveness
  - Reading and understanding non-verbal communication
  - Building self-confidence

III. Basic Office Skills Training Program: [for ages 17-30 yrs. Old only] In the past years, PICA offered this program to the out-of-school youth [OSYs]. This, too, is one part of the program which the Rehab center is particularly interested in for those who are almost to leave the center. The training can provide them with the necessary skills needed for simple jobs. Note: for ages 17- 35 only who wish to find a job later:

1. Modular course in English to improve the participants’ verbal communication:
  a. Fundamentals of English: A Review
  b. Reading & Writing Drills
2. ‘Hands-on’ Lessons in Computer:
  a. Computer Basics
  b. Software concepts
  c. Encoding: Correct finger location
  d. MS Word
  e. Accounting Management
  f. Creative Presentation
  g. Ethics in the Internet