Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2021 (SKNIS): With the growing concern over the increase in the use, misuse, and abuse of cannabis (marijuana) among youth in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts & Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat held a training session for education counsellors on Monday 19th April 2021, at the Jessups Community Center in Nevis.
Mrs. Karimu Byron-Caines, Director of St. Kitts & Nevis National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat, an agency that falls under the Ministry of National Security, said that part of the responsibility of the Secretariat “is to ensure that effective prevention, treatment, and other intervention programmes through education and training are made available to the persons we serve in this Federation.”
“We have had many calls, numerous calls, especially lately, of persons expressing concerns of the increase in marijuana use, misuse and abuse amongst our adolescents in the Federation, and as such we have had official overseas training through the Organization of American States (OAS) where Miss Zahra Jacobs, your trainer for today travelled to Mexico to undertake this training in Cannabis Youth Treatment Series One.”
Mrs. Byron-Caines said that the manual and training are “designed to help train substance abuse treatment counsellors and other counsellors to conduct a brief five-session treatment intervention for adolescents with cannabis use disorders presenting for outpatient treatment. It combines two sessions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) and three sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in a group format.”
“We all know, and we are aware of the effects of marijuana, especially in our youths. We have heard it especially in our schools where the students are sometimes coming to school high, causing some behavioural problems. We are seeing challenges with the academic performance and so we are pleased to be offering you the front-line counsellors hands-on material for an effective programme. It’s going to take you effort; it’s going to take you dedication; it’s going to take some planning, but the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention is here to support you, to assist you in any way,” Mrs. Byron-Caines said.
Ms. Zahnela Claxton, Principal Education Officer (PEO) in the Department of Education on Nevis, said that the training will prove beneficial.
“This training will no doubt provide our counsellors with additional tools, which they will surely find useful. In an age where edibles and smoking are the norms of our young people, it is imperative that we provide the necessary support for them,” Ms. Claxton said.
Ms. Sandra Maynard, Director of Social Services in the Ministry of Social Development in the Nevis Island Administration, welcomed the training and said that with the increased cannabis use in high schools, it is important to reach out especially to you At-Risk-Youth and youth offenders.
“In January of 2020, I attended the unveiling of the CFYR (Communities, Families and Youth Resilience) Project Baseline online study of communities in our Federation and paid special attention to results of young persons’ involvement in delinquent activity. Of those surveyed in the 10 to 29 age group in St. Kitts and Nevis, youth in their controlled communities were using marijuana or other illegal drugs at a rate of 47.8 percent,” said Ms. Maynard.
She added: “The controlled communities if I understand correctly, were those identified by the project as the high-risk communities across the Federation. Those youth not in controlled or high-risk territories admitting to using marijuana and other drugs was reported as being 23.7 percent. To be fair to the efforts of my CFYR colleagues, there was some reported reduction of controlled substances by the end of the project, but that number reported 30.5 percent, but 30.5 percent is still one that gives cause for serious concern, and more importantly, a call to action.”
Ms. Maynard added that the COVID-19 pandemic has had mental health effects on children and youth and some perhaps have turned to drugs to help them to cope.
NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 20, 2021) – – Counselors, Child Protection and Probation Officers and school Guidance Counselors in Nevis are now better equipped to treat young persons who abuse Cannabis.
The counselors attended a one-day training session on an international application- Cannabis Youth Treatment Programme- on April 19, 2021 at the Jessups Community Centre.
The training session, organized by the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention, is designed to help train substance abuse counselors and other counselors to conduct a brief five-session intervention for adolescents with Cannabis use disorders.
Ms. Zahnela Claxton, Principal Education Officer in the Department of Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), said with the prevalence of students who use and or abuse marijuana, the training was very timely and necessary.
“This training will no doubt provide our counselors with additional tools which they will surely find useful. Is it necessary? Yes. Will it be useful? Yes. Is it timely? A resounding yes.
“In an age where Edibles and smoking are the norm for our young people it is imperative that we provide the necessary support for them. In some of the instances it is beyond what is happening in the schools and the community. In some instances it is something that that is encouraged at home.
“We know the effects [of marijuana use] on the development of our children and teens. In our schools we often see evidence of Cannabis abuse. In light of this, on behalf of the Ministry and Department of Education, I applaud the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention for this initiative. I hope you [participants] will be able to put what is learned into practice,” she said during the opening ceremony.
Mrs. Karimu Byron Caines, Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention Secretariat, highlighted that the training was being offered by the Ministry of National Security as part of its responsibility to ensure that effective prevention, treatment and other intervention programmes, education, and training are made available to the persons in the Federation.
She explained that the counselors would be trained in effective applications of brief intervention approaches to the treatment of adolescents affected by cannabis abuse.
“This Cannabis Youth Treatment combines two sessions of Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and three sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in a group format.
“So this is a training a tool that has been used across the Organisation of American States hemisphere and they have found it to be effective. So we are pleased to be sharing the material. The manuals will act as a guide as they go back to their facilities and institutions to implement this training session.
“We all know and are aware of the effects of marijuana, especially on our youths. We’ve heard it especially in our schools where students are sometimes coming to school high, causing some behavioral problems. We are seeing challenges with the academic performance and so we are pleased to be offering you the frontline counselors hands on material to an effective program,” she said.
The session was facilitated by Ms. Zara Jacobs a counselor in the Ministry of Community Development.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (March 11, 2021) – More than 30 staff from the School Meals Programme on Nevis took part in the first of a series of training sessions hosted by the Department of Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in preparation for a new initiative in the school feeding programme. It was held at the Charlestown Primary School’s cafeteria on March 10, 2021.
Mrs. Renell Daniel, School Meals Coordinator in the Department of Education explained that the training is designed to prepare the cooking staff to offer a variety of international dishes in an initiative dubbed “Tour Around the World”, which follows from “Tour Around the Caribbean” which focussed on Caribbean dishes. It was introduced in the second school term.
“In Term III we are going to “Tour Around the World” and we are going to offer different types of food combinations as well as stopping at different countries in the world, and today we have Chef Henville who is going to be training our cooks as to do fish – Mahi-mahi as well as a salad with vegetables…
“He’s been working with our cooks throughout the term and today is no different where he will be working with our cooks, training them as to how to cook these meals and make them more child-friendly as well as tasty,” she said.
Ms. Wendy Tsai, a volunteer Nutritionist from Taiwan who is attached to the School Meals Programme will be among the trainers. She will teach the participants how to prepare Stir Fried Beef Noodles and Spring rolls when the tour “stops” in Taiwan.
Mrs. Daniel also spoke on how the upcoming training sessions will be done and commended participants for readily accepting the training.
“You will see that we have different chefs as well and different restaurants come in. We are also planning with Indian Summer when we stop in India, and we have other places that we will stop on our journey around the world…
“We applaud our cooks for being willing and open to the menu changes… we applaud our cooks for taking this journey with us, and joining the School Meals Programme in helping our children develop healthy lifestyles,” she said.
The School Meals Coordinator noted that the department continues to move forward with the feeding programme and is constantly reviewing meals prepared in an effort to make them better and tastier for students.
Chef Michael Henville, Executive Chef and Food and Nutrition Specialist with the School Meals Programme, used the opportunity to commend the participants for their interest.
“Today we are going to do a quick simple and easy pan seared Mahi Mahi with a little bit of a citrus and butter sauce with a pumpkin salad. I want to applaud all of our cooks here today that’s giving of their time to learn these new dishes, and to try something new and to also educate the kids on these new healthy dishes that we are trying with them.
“So I really applaud them, and really just…moving the School Meals Programme forward…in a better and newer direction,” he said.
At the end of the training sessions the participants will have the opportunity to recreate the new dishes for students at the schools on Thursday of each week, to expose them to different tastes and flavours from around the world. Students will also have the opportunity to learn briefly about the country the dish originates from.
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NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (December 09, 2020) — The following is an announcement from the Department of Education regarding a pubic sensitization seminar entitled “Education for the future: Learning Beyond the Pandemic.”
The Department of Education will host a public sensitization seminar on Thursday 10th, December 2020 at the Nevis Performing Arts Centre (NEPAC) beginning at 5:00 p.m.
The main aims of this forum are:
– To provide the public with an update on the Ministry of Education’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
– To provide insight into the future of education, particularly in relation to the integration of technology.
– To share a live demonstration on the use of the Microsoft platform for virtual education and the expectations in the event that there are unexpected school closures.
The department cordially invites parents and guardians of students to register and take advantage of this opportunity to be empowered to support their students.
To register please click one of the links below:
In-person session at NEPAC
https://forms.gle/RrXCjPZrtjCtXgXK9
WEBINAR Registration Link
https://forms.gle/k3s8Mb1p6nP96aw87
Please be advised that all COVID-19 protocols will be strictly observed and screening will begin at 4:00 p.m.
]]>NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS July 17, 2020 (Nevis Island Administration) – Early Childhood Development Centres on Nevis have been given the okay to re-open, however they must first be certified complaint with new COVID-19 protocols.
The new parameters for the reopening of the centres was the focal point of a sensitization training for Early Childhood Development supervisors on Thursday July 16, 2020, hosted by the Department of Education at the Charlestown Primary School.
The supervisors were apprised of the Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Development COVID-19 Compliance and Enforcement Checklist which includes physical distancing and temperature screening.
The new physical distancing requirement dictates that 31 square feet per child for pre-schoolers and 40 square feet per infant must be observed indoors.
The checklist includes arrival and departure screening protocols which stipulate mandatory temperature checks upon arrival for staff and children, and sanitization stations.
With respect to hygiene, supervisors must keep a written schedule for sanitizing frequently touched surfaces such as tables, chairs, cots and toys, and floors must be mopped three times daily.
Under the health and safety protocols, children or adults who exhibit signs of a cold such as coughing, sneezing, and blowing of the nose, are sent home immediately.
Ms. Zahnela Claxton, Principal Education Officer in the Department of Education, told the group of about 20 supervisors that multiple ministries and agencies had consulted, including the Ministries of Health and Education; and the Nevis COVID-19 Task Force to ensure the centres can safely re-open.
She explained there is no set re-opening date, but they will be allowed to reopen as soon as they are in compliance with the established COVID-19 protocols.
“We do not know if and when a COVID-19 vaccine would be made and approved. We do know that the virus is here, and we have to learn to function to the best of our ability.
“Taking the necessary precautions, we will be able to re-open but we will not be able to do so as we were before. The age and developmental level of the children you serve dictate that additional measures be put in place to protect our children and employees within Early Childhood,” she said.
Ms. Claxton told the Department of Information that day-care and preschool owners will have to re-apply for permission to operate using a new application form that reflects the COVID-19 protocols.
Once the application is received, a group consisting of members of the Nevis COVID-19 Compliance Task Force and officials from the Ministry of Education would then visit the facility to ensure that the required standards are met.
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