EMPOWERING FAMILIES: HOW THE STOP-TO-START PROGRAMME EQUIPS YOUTH AND PARENTS TO TACKLE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Precious Mupenzi

• The Stop-to-Start Anti-Substance Abuse Programme, launched by the Department of Social Development, is focused on supporting children aged 10 to 12 who are struggling with or at risk of substance abuse.
• It adopts a family-centered approach that involves parents alongside their children to strengthen familial bonds, which social workers like Khomotjo Kekana identify as crucial for lasting impact.
• Central to the programme is the use of Narrative Therapy, a technique that empowers children by helping them view substance abuse as a challenge separate from their identities, fostering resilience and healthier life choices.

“When a child is arrested and shows signs of substance abuse, probation officers refer them to us, the social workers, for diversion programmes,” explains Khomotjo Kekana, a social worker at a Child and Youth Care Centre in Johannesburg. “We are the ones providing these programmes for young people struggling with substance abuse issues, helping them build life skills and break harmful habits.”

Kekana emphasises the importance of ongoing training to keep their approaches relevant. “The training has been insightful,” she says. “There have been new approaches since we first learned these techniques, and it has been helpful to learn and exchange best practices with other provinces.”

One challenge, Kekana notes, is encouraging parents to participate in the programme alongside their children, which she considers essential. “Some parents are reluctant to attend sessions, often citing work or other commitments,” she explains. “But their presence is vital. This programme is designed not just to help the child but to strengthen families as a whole.”

Kekana adds that when parents actively participate, they better understand the challenges their children face and learn how to support them effectively. “This is about building a support network that empowers the entire family, helping both parents and children develop healthier coping strategies. The strength of a family plays a major role in a child’s recovery and growth,” she says, reinforcing that parental commitment is essential for lasting change.

Kekana’s insights come as probation officers gather in Boksburg for a week-long training led by the Department of Social Development. This training, part of the “Stop-to-Start” Anti-Substance Abuse Programme for Children, equips probation officers with tools to support children aged 10 to 12 in resisting substance use and understanding its impact on their lives.

To address the issue of reluctant parents, Kekana and her colleagues have begun sharing strategies to encourage stronger parental involvement. One approach, suggested by a fellow delegate, is to involve the courts to mandate parental attendance when necessary. With a court order, probation officers can require parents to attend sessions, ensuring they are active participants in their child’s recovery. “Having the court’s support gives the programme added authority, helping parents understand that their involvement is not optional but an essential part of helping their child overcome challenges,” says Kekana. By sharing these insights, probation officers emphasise that the Stop-to-Start Programme is a family-centred initiative, aiming not only to help children avoid substance abuse but also to strengthen family bonds.

The Stop-to-Start Programme is grounded in Narrative Therapy, a therapeutic approach developed by Michael White and David Epston, which separates children from their problems, fostering a sense of empowerment and resilience. Narrative Therapy holds that a child’s identity is shaped by their experiences, or “narratives,” rather than being defined by their problems. By viewing substance abuse as an external challenge, children are encouraged to confront these issues without seeing them as inseparable from their identity.

This approach helps children externalise sensitive issues, allowing them to address problems like substance abuse in a more constructive and manageable way. By objectifying the problem, Narrative Therapy reduces children’s natural defences and resistance, making it easier for them to engage productively in the therapeutic process. Widely used in community work and counselling, this method teaches children to rely on their own unique skills to confront and minimise the impact of problems in their daily lives.

Through the Stop-to-Start Programme, children aged 10 to 12 learn critical coping skills to withstand peer pressure and social challenges associated with substance abuse. The programme not only equips them with strategies to avoid substance use but also deepens their understanding of its consequences, helping them make healthier choices. By focusing on both individual and family involvement, the programme fosters a support system where children can build resilience with the guidance of trusted adults. This holistic approach, with structured sessions for both children and parents, underscores that family engagement is essential for the programme’s long-term success.