POSITIONING FOR EARLY DETECTION & INTERVENTION
INSPIRING STORIES
Early Intervention for Young Girl
A
zura (not actual name) is a 13-year-
old young adolescent studying in a
secondary school in the West. At such a
young age, she is learning to cope with
setbacks in life.
The caseworker of GP is not only liaising
with the school to follow up on her
well-being, but Azura also continues to
receive professional help. She has been
encouraged to talk about her views
on drugs, as well as being counselled
on drug taking behaviours through
psychoeducational activities. Social
awareness cues have also been taught
so that she can better improve her
social relationships with others. Through
all these interventions, the caseworker is
seeking to cultivate some fundamental
values and skills for Azura to journey
through life challenges. We are glad that
she is highly motivated and determined
to achieve her goals.
As her mother was incarcerated for drug
abuse and her relatives refused to care
for her in the mother’s absence, she was
admitted to Gladiolus Place (GP) due to
no alternative care arrangement.
During her early phase of admission
to GP, it was observed that she had
difficulty communicating openly with
her mother. She shared that her mother
did not understand her feelings. She also
struggled with emotional regulation,
especially anger management.
GP will continue to liaise with relevant
stakeholders
to
identify
Azura’s
needs and support her with relevant
interventions.
GP was able to provide a safe space for
her to explore her feelings and receive
counselling sessions to discover positive
coping strategies. Continually, she was
encouraged to initiate communication
with her mother.
Caseworker
Gladiolus Place
When her mother was out of prison, it
was heart-warming to see Azura voicing
out her heartfelt concerns to her mother,
overcoming her hesitation.
Gladiolus Place (formerly known as AG
Home) is a Christian residential refuge
for teenage girls aged 12-19 years of
age. Here, we provide a safe and loving
family environment for every girl who
walks through our door. We envision for
each girl, under our care and nurturing to
bloom like the Gladiolus flower, clothed
in strength and honour, empowered to
be women of dignity and confidence,
so that they may live their lives to the
fullest.
Having being exposed to family members
who had consumed drugs, Azura is at
high risk of being influenced. Hence, it is
important at this tender age to provide
the needed early intervention through
counselling and loving engagement
with her.
6