PRO-YOUTH TRIAL: Protecting Youth from Interpersonal Violence via Implementation of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14 in Panama

在中美洲，人际暴力会大大减少青少年成为快乐和健康成年人的机会。据估计，在中美洲所有的杀人案中，青少年参与了82%。人际暴力不仅会危及他们的生命，还会影响他们的健康和学业成绩。研究表明，健康的家庭功能是保护青少年免受暴力侵害的最重要因素之一。为此，联合国毒品和犯罪问题办公室(毒品和犯罪问题办公室)5年多来一直在中美洲几个国家投资实施10至14岁青少年强化家庭方案(SFP 10-14)，作为预防战略。SFP 10-14分七个小组会议进行，青少年(10至14岁)和他们的父母都参加讲习班和活动，以建立家庭力量，如沟通和果断的纪律。研究表明，在问题发生之前培养这些技能，可以防止青少年从事危险行为，从而避免在以后的生活中遇到困难。毒品和犯罪问题办公室过去5年的工作中心一直是巴拿马，在非政府组织、教育、卫生和政策之间建立了密切的工作关系。此外，我们的研究团队成员在巴拿马进行了一系列初步研究。其中包括对家长在巴拿马参加SPF 10-14后的经验的定性评估，这些评估现已公布。在此项目中，我们的目标是在以前的努力基础上，在巴拿马高风险城镇广泛实施SFP 10-14。我们选择巴拿马作为我们的实验室，是因为它得到了政府的大力支持，在中美洲作为SPF 10-14的现有枢纽，而且有一名在该主题方面具有专业知识的当地调查人员在场。巴拿马日益增长的人际暴力比率使这一问题成为当地政策的当务之急，10-14岁儿童中有三分之一的人死于人际暴力。我们将测试SPF 10-14是否会降低参与其中的家庭的风险指标，与那些简单地接受社区通常提供的护理的家庭相比。我们还将研究如何执行该方案，以确定建立和维持可持续性的最佳方式。最后，我们将衡量实施的经济性。该项目是联合王国学术机构、巴拿马研究中心、毒品和犯罪问题办公室以及巴拿马卫生部和教育部之间强有力的伙伴关系，并建立在现有工作和研究关系的基础上。鉴于毒品和犯罪问题办公室在这一区域拥有牢固和完善的联系，调查结果将有可能影响巴拿马以外的政策。

In Central America, interpersonal violence can significantly reduce adolescents' opportunities for becoming happy and healthy adults. It is estimated that an adolescent is involved in 82% of all homicides in Central America. Interpersonal violence not only puts their lives at risk; it affects their health and their academic performance. Research suggests that healthy family functioning is one of the most important factors that can protect adolescents from violence. For this reason, for over 5 years the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has invested in implementing the Strengthening Families Programme for adolescents 10 to 14 years old (SFP 10-14) in several countries across Central America as a prevention strategy. SFP 10-14 is delivered in seven group sessions in which both the adolescent (10 to 14 years old) and their parents take part in workshops and activities to build family strengths such as communication and assertive discipline. Research suggests that building these skills, before problems occur, protects adolescents from engaging in risky behaviour, and thus from difficulties later in life. The hub of UNODC's efforts in the last 5 years has been Panama, with close working relationships established between NGO's, education, health and policy. Moreover, members of our research team have conducted a series of preliminary studies in Panama. These include qualitative evaluations of parent's experience after participating in SPF 10-14 in Panama, which are now published.In this project we aim to build on previous efforts and test implementation of SFP 10-14 widely across high-risk townships in Panama. We have chosen Panama as our laboratory given its strong governmental support, its role as the existing hub for SPF 10-14 in Central America, and the presence of a local investigator with expertise in the topic. Panama's growing rates of interpersonal violence make this issue a pressing local policy priority, with 1 in 3 deaths of those between 10-14 years old due to interpersonal violence.We will test whether SPF 10-14 leads to a reduction in indicators of risk for families that take part, compared to those who simply receive usual care provided in their communities. We will also look at how the programme is implemented in order to identify the best ways to establish and maintain sustainability. Finally, we will measure the economics of implementation. The project represents a strong partnership between academic institutions in the United Kingdom, a research centre in Panama, UNODC, and the Panamanian Ministries of Health and Education, and builds upon existing working and research relationships. Findings will have the potential to impact policies beyond Panama given that UNODC has strong and well-established links in this region.