There are a myriad challenges which are often associated with the low economic class and indigenous members of a society. Some of the most common issues involve sickness, homelessness in addition to a number of vices laced with poverty which in most cases characterizes such environments. The aboriginals in Australia forms a good example of such societies which have constantly been rocked with various hurdles an aspect which could be associated with their level of disparity in culture. This form of disparity has largely detached most aboriginals from development (Britnell, 2015). Despite the government’s extensive efforts to deal with this gap, the individuals still live in desperate states which have prompted the rise of various supportive and rehabilitative organizations such as Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS). This paper analyzes the organization by outlining its history, the membership, nature of services offered as well as some of the challenges faced by the organization in addition to impressions derived from the case study.
History
The Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services is one of the largest non-profit organizations based in Northern Australia whose main focus is to offer residential assistance and rehabilitation services. The organization does not only deal with alcohol addicts and victims as can be derived from the name but also handles issues of other drug addicts. CAAPS which was formed in 1984 is a community based initiative whose support focus is mainly on the Aboriginal as well as Torres Strait Islander families. The organization was a joint initiative of the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting churches. It previously had its headquarters and base in Gordon Symonds Hostel and Knuckey Lagoon before being moved to the current location (Gakidou, 2014). Due to the fact that the organization is a non-profit entity, it has majorly depended on corporate sponsorship for funding since its inception. The main funding bodies include the Northern Territory Government, Commonwealth Government as well as other corporate sponsors.
The organization mainly targets people who are engaged in substance misuse. In relation to that, the vision of CAAPS is “To provide excellence in Service Delivery” in the area of misuse of drugs. As such, its core objectives are aimed at offering as much help to drug addicts as possible. This is achieved through comprehensive residential rehabilitative programs emphasized with appropriate follow up strategies.
The initiative is family based, with a special focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The mission of the organization is therefore to offer evidence based assistance to these families with the main aim of helping them overcome the challenges associated with misuse of drugs. In addition, the organization is keen on raising public awareness on the impacts of drug use and hence the need for community effort in obtaining long lasting solutions (Hughes & Hillebrand, 2016).
CAAPS provides various healthcare related services to the youths and children. This group may be independent individuals or children who accompany their parents for the programs. As a matter of fact, about 60% of the youths are covered in family programs which also involve their parents. In this category, the youths are taken through counseling programs spearhead by the strong steps program. In these sessions, the individuals are sensitized on the use of methamphetamine, alcohol as well as other drugs. Additionally, there is a 16 week treatment program offered to individuals aged between 12-24 years aimed at eradicating problems associated with volatile substance use (Hughes, Randall & Jose, 2014). There is also the homeless outreach program for the youths given to individuals and their families especially those who are at risk of homelessness. Lastly under this category, the literacy and numeracy skills of the youths are enhanced through the numeracy and literacy program
In this category, there is a 12-week program which is often given to adults aged between 35-50 years with issues associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs. There is also the children’s program, offered to the children to the parents covered under this service. This program takes care of children who are aged between 18 months to 18 years. The core objective here is to enhance the social and emotional well being of the children while they are also prepared for school (HealthInfoNet, 2015). This program also encompasses solutions to homelessness in addition to counseling programs to families who are not only at risk of homelessness but are also faced with issues related to alcohol and the use of other drugs.
CAAPS has a stable homelessness outreach program whose main objective is to assist families who are struggling to obtain stable accommodation. This program covers adult families above 40 years and their children aged between 18months and 18 years. The help is also extended toward individuals who are noted to be at risk of homelessness. At the same time, the organization has set up counseling programs through Strong Steps in collaboration with various other amity community services. The counseling sessions are aimed at offering rehabilitative solutions to problems related to the use of alcohol as well as other drugs (Nixon & Philippe, 2016). While encouraging the members to quit the misuse activities, the organization offers relevant alternatives which could also help to stabilize the living standards of its members.
CAAPS, as a result of its scope of services is largely dominated by the aboriginal people as well as the Torres Strait Islanders. The aboriginals take the core portion of membership and mainly influence the type of people elected for leadership. As a way of ensuring equity, the organization is constantly striving to strike a balance in terms of gender when it comes to membership (Thomson, 2014). The other notable point on membership in CAAPS is the aspect that it is highly open to residents of the Northern Territory provided these people can adhere to the regulations, policies and procedures of CAAPS.
CAAPS currently has its location in 60 Boulter Road, Berrimah, N.T. 0828 with a free call contact which is 1800 894 800. The organization’s business hours are from Monday to Thursday between 8.00am to 5.00pm. Despite the fact that the calls are free of charge, the callers are also allowed the option to leave a message in case the operators are all committed during the working hours. This strategy is aimed at improving the quality of response services at CAAPS
Based on a case study of the organization, a number of issues can be established. CAAPS has over time been a crucial component of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Its immense interventions in a bid to save the lives of the young children as well as the adults from the vast effects of substance abuse have been noted. This explains why the body continues to get support and sponsorship from its key stakeholders. According to the annual report for the end of 2017, substance abuse which had earlier been prevalent among the aboriginals has since reduced by over 30% as a result of interventions measures placed by CAAPS. Secondly, the rate of homelessness has decline by 20% over the past 3 years as the organization is constantly upbeat on offering solutions to adults who lack stable residential places (Vos, Barker, Stanley & Lopez, 2017).
In its bid to achieve its objectives, it is worth to note that the initiative has been faced with its fair share of challenges. One of the prominent emergent issues is the large population which in most cases overwhelms the organization. Despite the fact that not so many people in this region seek these services, studies indicate that the actual percentage of aboriginal people faced with challenges of substance misuse and homelessness are actually more than what the organization can actually contain. In addition, CAAPS is a non-profit organization which entirely depends on external funding to enhance the flow of its activities. In the unlikely event that this funding is limited or cut off, the organization may have most of its processes halted. The lean source of finance perhaps explains the limited resources and amenities owned by the organization. The long term strategy is to grow to a larger scope and be able to meet its core objective of covering as many families as possible (Britnell, 2015). The other challenge is the inconsistency of some of its members in following the procedures of the program. Some members opt out of the session in the middle of the treatment period which in turn acts as a major hindrance to the attainment of the organization’s mission which is to provide excellence in service delivery.
Based on the analysis of the organization, it has been possible to gain a number of insights with reference to cultural and societal well being. It is clear that the aboriginal people are still quite marginalized culturally and the organization’s initiative to offer solutions to some of these problems is a welcome idea. The issue of poverty, sickness, drug abuse and homelessness are pertinent challenges which continue to rock the Northern Territory inhabitants. There is therefore an inevitable need to come up with long lasting strategies to mitigate these challenges (Britnell, 2015). Apart from the rehabilitation services to the affected individuals, CAAPS ought to partner more with the government agencies to improve infrastructure and the general level of economic development in the area. This would not only ease movement which is a crucial element in the mitigation strategies but also play a crucial role in helping individual to get self reliant by taking part in activities which can earn them a living.
Conclusion
CAAPS has been and remain an integral body among the aboriginal people as a result of the extensiveness of its services. The analysis above reveals that the initiative extends helps to over 70% of families including youths and children living in Northern Australia. The challenges associated with substance abuse are numerous and when not addressed may at times lead to high mortality rates and increase in societal vices (Thomson, 2014). The organization’s efforts to offer solutions to these victims are therefore laudable and deserve the best possible support. In order to increase the scope of its service delivery, it would therefore be vital for CAAPS to consider bringing on board various other stakeholders and sponsors.
References
Britnell, M. (2015). In Search of the Perfect Health System. London: Palgrave
Gakidou, E. (2014). Improving Child Survival through Environmental and Nutritional Interventions: The Importance of Targeting Interventions Towards the Poor. Journal of the American Medical Association, 298(16), 1876-1887
Hughes, B., & Hillebrand, E. (2016). Exploring and shaping International Futures. London: Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
Hughes, B., Randall Kuhn, C., & Jose, S. (2014). Improving Global Health. Patterns of Potential Human Progress, 3(1), 12-24.
HealthInfoNet. (2015). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Limited. 3, 1-Retrieved from https://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu./organisations?
Nixon, J., & Philippe, U. (2016). The Relationship between Health Care Expenditure and Health Outcomes: Evidence and caveats for a Causal Link. European Journal of Health Economics 7(1), 7-18.
Thomson, Neil (2014). Indigenous Australia: Indigenous Health. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Vos, T.; Barker, B.; Stanley, L., & Lopez, A. (2017). The burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Summary report. Brisbane School of Population Health, 1(1), 14.
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