Independent Living Support Service (SAVA) for people with drug dependence

SAVA is a service run by Fundación Salud y Comunidad (FSC) that accompanies and supports the independence processes of people with addictive behaviours. It is aimed at those who are maintaining abstinence and need day-to-day support to sustain it.

The service guarantees individualised care from a professional team that provides socio-educational and emotional support tailored to each case.

Who it is for

SAVA is aimed at people over 18 with a history of drug dependence who:

• Are currently abstinent.

• Need educational and emotional support to deal with everyday difficulties.

• Require support to get involved in healthy leisure, occupational resources and a social network.

Objectives

The general objective is to sustain independence and abstinence, offering practical support with daily tasks after treatment has ended, when new challenges tend to arise.

Main objectives:

• Promote the maintenance of abstinence and a healthy lifestyle.

• Consolidate the changes begun in previous treatment.

• Strengthen independence, building in protective habits and projects and avoiding risk behaviours.

The professional team agrees objectives with each person (educator–service user) to set realistic goals suited to their needs, current situation and abilities.

What the service provides

The support is defined at the outset according to each service user’s needs. It may include:

• Socio-educational support and a personalised plan of objectives.

• Help with finding housing.

• Accompaniment to follow-up appointments and to community resources.

• Psychological and emotional support.

• Follow-up of medical appointments and medication guidelines.

• Healthy lifestyle habits: hygiene, diet, physical activity, sleep…

• Money management: monitoring and reinforcement.

• Domestic independence: organising the home and chores.

• Handling complex paperwork and procedures.

• Promotion and guidance on community resources.

• Healthy leisure: finding and planning activities.

• Training: guidance towards educational pathways.

• Employment integration: support with actively looking for work.

Where does the support take place?

• At the home of the service user.

• In the office set aside for this support.

• Remotely (online).

Access and duration

Access is voluntary and responds to the person’s own request. The duration is flexible and depends on the objectives set and the time needed to achieve them: from a minimum of 2 months up to a maximum of 24 months.

After contact between the person and the referring centre, an interview is arranged with the person in charge of the service. With mutual acceptance, the process begins, along with the meetings with the key professional.