Queensland Child Protection Regional Program Award was won by a PCYC Youth Engagement and Community Programs Coordinator Laci Christiaen for her efforts in creating and facilitating outstanding programs beneficial for schools and communities based out of the Elanora Police Beat.
Program Coordinator Laci Christiaen said the PCYC Engagement Project consisted of several programs involving an Elanora Police Beat Officer, Senior Constable Kurt Foessel discussing laws regarding subjects such as drugs and alcohol, violence, cyber bullying and sending sexually explicit photos.
One innovative program highlighted at the awards ceremony, Boxing Imagination Focus (B.I.F), is delivered to schools aimed at anger management. This program is delivered by qualified trainers, each session involves ‘boxercise’, stretching, cardio and boxing combos followed by ‘talks’ based on boxing terminology such as ‘on the ropes.
“The unique sessions are created to hold the participant’s interest through visual activities, role play, engaging positive psychology techniques and group discussion of real life ‘scenarios,” Ms Christiaen said.
Elanora Officer in Charge, Senior Constable Kurt Foessel, said that the program had aimed at enabling young people to deal effectively with stress and delivered results in students seeking assistance for issues including drug addiction, rape, physical and sexual abuse, mental illness, and losing parents to suicide.
“B.I.F has been a pathway for students to other programs such as Project Booyah and Challenge to Change which focuses on substance abuse, criminal activity, behaviour, relationships and self-esteem issues including sexting,” Senior Constable Foessel said.
“One student came through B.I.F, then into ‘Challenge to Change’ and sought help for a drug addiction, receiving assistance and support through Laci.
“This student is now doing a traineeship working with young children and has completely ceased her substance abuse.”
