Adolescent Forensic Health Service
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Health Promotion and Education
The Adolescent Forensic Health Service (AFHS) is committed to improving young people's health and wellbeing and reducing health-related risk behaviour through health promotion and education.
A designated AFHS Health Promotion and Education team works with young people in custody and the community to deliver a variety of information sessions, workshops and longer term programs covering topics including:
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Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs
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Sexual health
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Blood Borne Viruses
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Reproduction
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Personal Hygiene
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Dental health
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Relapse Prevention
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Coping strategies and relaxation
The team operates within a harm minimisation framework and specifically supports young people to:
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Increase their knowledge about health behaviours
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Improve their attitudes and beliefs towards healthier behaviours
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Engage in healthier behaviours.
Information Sessions
Drugs and Stuff
Drugs and Stuff targets young people who have recently entered the Pauline Toner Remand Unit at Melbourne Youth Justice Centre. The program provides alcohol and other drug education within a harm minimization framework, reducing the risk of substance use overdose upon release from custody. The program also includes education about safer sexual behaviours, blood-borne viruses, nutrition, exercise and general wellbeing while in remand.
Duration: 1 hour
Individual Support
HPE provide individual support to young people in custody to address specific issues they face as recognised by Primary Health staff for example; substance abuse, sexual health, nutrition, pregnancy and parenting.
Sexual Health
A session covering sexual and reproductive health, including sexually transmitted infections, safe sex, intimacy, relationships and sexual identity, behaviour and attraction. This session specifically targets young men in custody and the community who are involved in the Male Adolescent Program for Positive Sexuality (MAPPS) program. Duration 1 - 1.5 hours
Alcohol and Violence
A session covering substance use education and harm minimisation and the link between alcohol, other drugs and violence. This session specifically targets young men in custody and the community who are involved in the Be Real Against ViolencE (BRAVE) program. Duration 1 - 1.5 hours
Workshops
Sexual Health*
This workshop is aimed at young people aged 15 years and above. It aims to address participant's knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about sexual and reproductive health, including sexually transmitted infections, safe sex, intimacy, relationships, and sexual identity, behaviour and attraction. It also seeks to improve young people's communication, negotiation and decision making skills in relation to sexual health. Duration: 1-day
The Human Body*
This workshop is aimed at young people aged 15 years and above. It aims to educate participants about the biology and function of the reproductive system (male and female) while also teaching relevant self-examination techniques in order to check for testicular and breast cancer. It also looks at concepts of general personal care including dental hygiene with participants in an interactive and practical way. Duration: 1-day
Alcohol and Other Drugs*
The workshop is aimed at young people aged 15 years and above. It provides substance use education within a harm minimization framework. This workshop looks at base education regarding what is a drug, categories of drugs and the effects of drugs, while also addressing personal experiences, reasons for substance use and opportunities to change substance use. Duration: 1-day
Relapse Prevention, Choices and Relaxation*
Working within a behaviour change framework, this workshop aims to build on the Alcohol and Other Drugs workshop for young people aged 15 years and above. The workshop addresses substance use relapse prevention, situations of high risk, alternatives to substance use and appropriate decision making. The workshop is concluded with a relaxation session demonstrating the effectiveness of relaxation techniques as alternatives to substance use in a variety of situations. Duration: 1-day
Alcohol and Other Drugs and Sexual Health 4 Young Men
The workshop is aimed at young men aged 10 -14 years. It combines topics from the Sexual Health and Drugs and Alcohol workshops but is targeted at a younger age group. Duration: 1 hour
(*delivered separately as 1-day workshops or together as a 2-day or 4-day)
Longer term programs
Challenge to Change (substance misuse for referred young people)
A cognitive behavioural program targeted at young men aged 15 -18 years in custody. The program aims to increase participants' motivation to change substance use behaviours and to address the link between substance use and offending behaviour. Participants' attitudes and beliefs towards substance use are also addressed.
Duration: 8 sessions of 2 hours
Me, Myself and I
A wellbeing program aimed at young women in custody. Topics covered include; sexual health, reproduction, relationships, substance use and general wellbeing.
Duration: 12 sessions of 2 hours