Youth Camp Model

The United Methodist European Board on Drug and Alcohol Concerns has hosted summer youth camps in the Ukraine for nearly 10 years. The summer camp, which targets Ukraine’s street children, emphasizes the prevention and intervention of alcohol and drug dependency.

The camp builds life skills and exposes young people, who often lacked opportunitities to travel, to new people and opportunities. Due its immeasurable success, the European Board, is creating a youth camp model handbook. The handbook, to be distributed throughout the denomination, will offer best practices on developing this summer camp model and adapting it within respective settings.

More information on the model will be forthcoming, and provided through SPSARV.

Faith Partners Congregational Team Model

As people in the pews and community struggle with their addictions, local churches often need successful models to mobilize their congregations to compassionately respond to alcohol and drug issues. SPSARV works in partnership with Faith Partners, Inc. (formerly The Rush Center of the Johnson Institute) to launch the congregational team ministry model throughout the United Methodist connection. Through a two-part training series, congregations create volunteer laity-led teams that help make the church a hospitable and safe haven for individuals and their families and the community to deal with the complex issues associated with addiction. Congregational teams are trained in the prevention and early intervention of alcohol and drug abuse and recovery support.

For more information on Faith Partners, please visit Training and Networking.