ADD-freeTraining

The ADD-freeTraining project –
A European initiative aiming to build and implement innovative training on the prevention of Smoking, Alcohol and Internet addictions among children and adolescents: a family oriented training approach for adult learners and educators.

Addiction to smoking, alcohol and the internet are a common transnational problem, the extent and determinants of which know no boundaries in Europe. Addictive behaviors are high across the EU, especially among children and adolescents in disadvantaged groups contributing to widening health related inequalities regardless of MS or region. Evidence supporting the importance of prevention concerns all MS, as does the importance of family and school as the most crucial protective factors of addictive behaviors among youth. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to smoking, alcohol and internet addiction, a new understudied phenomenon raising concerns and requiring urgent attention. Internet addiction does not have the same social stigma as other addictions. Nevertheless, there are commonalities between tobacco, alcohol and internet abuse: wide availability, common causes such as childhood initiation, social deprivation and exclusion, poor access to education, problematic family and school environments, mental health effects. Although sharing common causes, adult training addressing these three addictions together is yet to be developed.

The ADD-freeTraining project will design and implement innovative training on the prevention of tobacco, alcohol and internet abuse in children/adolescents. The project promotes a family-centered approach to prevention, simultaneously addressing the school and wider social context and promoting healthy interaction within the family, school, peers and society

The project aims to raise widespread awareness concerning the important role of adults involved with youth on the prevention of addictions in childhood and adolescence.

The project’s outputs include:

1. An Addiction Prevention Ecosystem Mapping and Conceptual Framework for training adult learners, teachers and adult educators (Output 1). This activity will include an exploration of existing training and specific knowledge gaps as perceived by parents and other stakeholders. The report will highlight shortages, needs and good practices and will discuss the training requirements that need to be taken into account when designing the methodology and developing the training packages.
2. A Methodological Framework for the design of the training curriculum (Output 2). This output will result in the development of a comprehensive guide for the design of the new training curriculum. This guide will serve as a basis, describing the fundamentals and strategy for creating evidence-based tools and materials and for delivering the developed training. The design and application of innovative, comprehensive training courses to understanding addiction (alcohol, smoking and internet use) common for all target groups will enhance understanding of core issues. The methodology will also outline specialized courses for (a) parents, focusing on parental skills and communication strategies, (b) teachers, emphasizing actions at the school level, while courses for (c) adult educators will focus on issues related to the importance of both family and school for developing comprehensive adult training curricula.
3. The Development of the training curriculum package (Output 3). The training package will include a training manual, power point presentations, and other tools such as videos, case studies, suggested study visits, exercises, reading material per thematic, etc. It will also include proposed tools for the assessment of skills acquisition, recognition and validation. The courses will comprise the following:
    – Common core modules for all target groups
    – Specialized modules emphasizing family oriented approaches and the role of parents
    – Specialized modules focusing on the role of the school environments and school based interventions for teachers
    – Specialized modules concerning the development of relevant adult education training for adult educators
4. An Interactive Web platform, applications and digital learning tools (Output 4). The Interactive Web platform will include all the developed training modules and assessment tools. The platform will also include communication and networking tools that will allow members to register their profiles and to identify other participants so as to create thematic community groups.
5. Adult Education Training activities (C1 & C2). The short-term joint staff event (C1) will involve the implementation and evaluation of the delivery of both the face-to-face and e-learning elements of the training course. It will take place over 3 days and will involve staff members of partner organizations. The blended mobility event (C2), is a 5-day activity that will involve the implementation of the training course for all involved target groups.
6. A Training Adaptation Toolkit (Output 5). This output will provide guidelines for interested parties (e.g. adult learning educators, training institutions and academic institutions) on how to implement the newly produced knowledge in their organizations. The expected results for involved professionals and staff upon completion of this project include: – Increased awareness regarding (a) the relevant training possibilities as well as innovative training techniques in EU countries, (b) knowledge gaps and needs of the target groups providing voice to the actual beneficiaries;

• Idryma Ormylia – Greece
• Center for Social Innovation Ltd – Cyprus
• Institute of Preventive Medicine Enviromental and Occupational Health, Prolepsis – Greece
• Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade – Serbia
• Bulgaria Youth Prevention – Bulgaria
• Institut Drustvenih Znanosti Ivo Pilar – Croatia