European Federation of Therapeutic Communities

1. European Federation of Therapeutic Communities Registered Office: Secretariat EFTC Vluchtenboerstraat 7a, 9890 Gavere, Belgium. Registered as not for profit organisation: Number vzw 12903/2000.

2. EFTC Mission: • The Mission of the EFTC is to support and develop the psychopedagogical approach to help problem drug users and thier families. • Our Mission is to assist in maximising the involvement and participation of each person in thier recovery from substance abuse. • The Self-Help, Community as Method Approach enhances the self respect and dignity of all clients.

3. Values. • All members of the federation provide equal opportunity treatment services that are: • non – violent • non – racist • non – exploitive • non - political

4. EFTC Goals: • To advance the cause of rehabiltation and habiltiation of problem drug takers and those others, who would benefit from the therapeutic community, Community As Method Approach.

5. EFTC Goals: • To encourage the development of effective programmes and models for treatment, throughout the European Continent. • To Provide a channel and forum for communication and co-operation between regional agencies, national government and European bodies.

6. EFTC Goals: • To encourage a high standard of staff training and ethics. • To promote and co-ordinate exchanges between treatment centres working in the field of drug treatment, rehabilitation, research, prevention and training. • To continue to develop and evaluate new methods which empower social integration and relapse prevention.

7. EFTC Goals: • To facilitate the Organisation of European Conferences on Rehabilitation and Drug Policy. • To co-operate with EWODOR and support International Symposia. • To co-operate with European Universities with special education and training for students and professionals.

8. The EFTC Board: • Details of the EFTC membership can be provided by contacting Mr. Dirk Vandevelde: EFTC Secretary and treasurer. • Contact: eftc@de kiem.be

9. Membership: • EFTC members can be found in 25 European Contries: • Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Bosnia – Herzegovinia • Czech Republic • Cyprus • Denmark • Finland • France • Germany • Great – Britain • Greece • Holland • Hungary • Ireland • Italy • Lituania • Norway • Portugal • Poland • Russia • Spain • Sweden • Slovenia • Slovakia • In Lithuania the E.F.T.C member is ”Surgrizimas” T.C.

10. Web Site: • http://www.eftc-europe.com

11. Assocates / Links • Board Member of World Federation of Therapeutic Communities. • European working group on drug oriented research: EWODOR • Strong Links to: • World Health Organisation. • United Nations Office On Drugs & Crime. • European Monitoring Centre –Drugs and Drug Addiction. • FICT -Italy • FTCCEE –central & eastern europe. • ATC UK –united kingdom. • NFTS –norway. • IFTC –israel. • Community of Communities – royal college of psychiatry • RadioTC International.

12. X11 EFTC European Conference on Rehabilitation and Drug Policy. • June 2-5th 2009. • Location: The Hauge - Netherlands. • Sub theme: ”Part of the Solution”. • Details at: • www.http://eftc-europe.com

13. The European Federation of Therapeutic Communities. • http://www.eftc-europe-com • E-post: Secretary / Treasurer: • Dirk Vandevelde: eftc@dekiem.be • President: • anthony.slater@phoenixhouse.no

14. Some Refections regarding Norway: In October 2007, the 10th Symposium on Substance Abuse Treatment was held in Oslo, hosted by Sirus, organised by the European Working group On Drug Oriented Research (EWODOR) and the E.F.T.C.

15. The Themes Were: Reforms: Ideology: Best Practice:

16. The Challenges: The challenges are how to work together and share, develop knowlege from both the medical approach to addiction, and that of drug free therapeutic communities. And to improve best practice in action. At all levels..........to recover from...