• HOME
• COUNTIES MANUKAU AOD CONSUMER NETWORK
• NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES
• NETWORK MEMBERS EXPERIENCES OF THE CM AOD CONSUMER NETWORK
• PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
• NETWORK MEETINGS
• GROUP GUIDELINES
• HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
• COUNTIES MANUKAU AOD CONSUMER NETWORK STRATEGIC PLAN
• CELEBRATING RECOVERY FORUM
  (Mental Health Awareness Week 2009 – AOD event)

NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES

The network was established to meet three main goals.

1: Counties Manukau District Health Board wanted a Network of AOD consumers to be established in Counties Manukau so as to be able to consult us regarding the development of their strategic plan for AOD service delivery in the area. At times there are opportunities for members to be invited to a variety of forums to give feedback to the DHB and other local stakeholders on our perspective to ensure consumers are consulted in all significant policy development and service delivery matters arising. Our Network has made a real difference so far, and the recent move to fund AOD Peer Support in Counties was in part based on feedback from our Network. Other issues identified (e.g. AOD housing & residential treatment) have resulted in projects being established to investigate potential consumer needs further.

2: The focus on Consumer workforce development has meant that the Network regularly provides access to a range of training that helps provide skills for Network members in Peer support and other social and recovery skills required for the Network to better support peers in recovery, and to be better equipped top apply for any work opportunities available to AOD consumer, (Inc Peer Support jobs). For example ABACUS were funded by CMDHB to provided a range of training sessions for Network members throughout 2009 and 2010.

3: The last goal is the more obvious one which is to help support consumers to achieve and maintain recovery. The Networks kaupapa is one which affirms diversity and everyone is entitled to their own concept of recovery which may or may not involve abstinence, e.g. harm reduction strategies are central to some mmember’srecoveries. The Peer Support Groups are the central focus for supporting recovery, and other consumer led initiatives e.g. Living Recovery (AOD free health outings) have been another option.