OH_Annual_Report_200.. - Odyssey House

Little Tamika nowenjoys spending timewith her dadparents & children’s programThe Parents and Children’s program at Odyssey Housemakes it possible for parents in the drug rehabilitationprogram to live with their children in self containedcottages with communal dining facilities. Living together asa family, the program teaches parenting skills and seeks todevelop a happy, healthy, self supporting unit that strives tobreak the cycle of generational drug misuse.It is a program dedicated to meeting the needs specificallyof the parent with their drug rehabilitation and the youngchildren with their schooling, as well as emotional andphysical development. Children are encouraged to attendthe local day care facility or they attend the local primaryschool. All the children are provided with supervised playand recreational activities. When parents finish theirrehabilitation and they, along with staff, recognise theyhave achieved confidence and responsibility towards theupbringing of their child, they have the option ofgraduating from the program.Highlights• All staff attended relevant professional developmentworkshops including: First Aid; Occupational Health andSafety; Working with Family and Children’s Sexual Assaulttraining for working with adult victims.• Increased the capacity to allow access to the program forparents who were on alternative pharmacotherapies(methadone).• Parents of the program participated in group interventionsin the wider community through Centacare and StVincent de Paul. These included:- Living Beyond Abuse- Magic 123 (a parenting workshop)- Parenting Toddlers- Anger Management• All residents and their children went on a week longholiday / camping trip to the Central Coast. It providedthe parents and children an ideal opportunity to relax andenjoy each others company.• Residents participated in therapy groups which enhancedtheir abilities. These included:* Self Esteem * Self Image * Relapse Prevention* Domestic Violence * Budgeting * Anger Management* Communication * Relationships * Nutrition * Hygiene* Play * Developmental Milestones * Sibling Rivalry* Boundaries with children * Dealing with difficult children* Dental Hygiene * Role modelling and leadership skills• New playground equipment was obtained and installedthrough grants from the Caledonia Foundation andUnited Way.• A new staff assessment area for play therapy wasobtained.• Assisted 10 families with the restoration of their childrenfrom the care of the Department of Community Services.• Social activities for the parents and children wereenhanced and included: dancing for parents with schoolaged children; weekly library time for parents withpre-school aged children; swimming lessons for thechildren and attendance at day care and primary school.ODYSSEY HOUSE192006ANNUAL REPORT