Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries supports the implementation of Strengthening Families Programme (10 – 14) in Kazakhstan.
17-20 August 2021 – UNODC Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries (RP-ANC) in close partnership with Atyrau region administration and Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) supported the expansion of the implementation of Strengthening Families Programme (SFP 10-14) in Atyrau, Kazakhstan. The 4-day Training of Facilitators/Trainers (ToFT) aimed to expand prevention of substance abuse and mental health disorders by focusing on parenting and family skills in the region.
Prevention interventions have been successfully implemented in Kazakhstan since 2016. To date, six secondary comprehensive schools in Pavlodar and 21 NIS schools throughout Kazakhstan have piloted SFP (10-14), 90 facilitators and 14 trainers have been trained and nearly 700 families have benefitted from the programme implementation.
“It is well-known, that supportive families are essential to raising socially, mentally and physically healthy and well-adjusted children and preventing later adolescent problems. According to the UNODC-WHO International Drug Prevention Standards, family skills training programmes have been found to be effective in preventing many risky behaviours including substance abuse” said Jeremy Milsom, Senior Programme Coordinator in his opening remark.
Officials from the Atyrau region administration, several school psychologists and prevention experts participated in person in this training despite the challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic which was conducted by the UNODC international consultant - Dr. Deborah Allen from Oxford Brookes University. 
The training was successful with the focus on youth, family and parenting and 54 trained facilitators will be able to expand the objectives of the training in Atyrau region under the guidance of five certified trainers from the beginning of school year onwards.
Following the Atyrau training, on 23-26 August an advanced-level training was organized by RP-ANC in Shymkent, with participation of SFP trainers and facilitators from all regions of Kazakhstan.
During the training, 28 national trainers/facilitators were able to reinforce their skills to further implement booster sessions of SFP 10-14 as well as their skills and knowledge on quality and fidelity, monitoring, evaluation and facilitation.
Thanks to the Government of Finland and the European Union for supporting the activity.