Empowering the community
OAKLANDS – The Oaklands-based Foundation Clinic is a treatment centre that aims to build support systems for people suffering from addiction.
The Foundation Clinic in Oaklands is a treatment centre that aims to change the way society views addiction.
Founded in 2001, the clinic acts as a support base and educational aspect within the community. Clinic and programme manager Leigh-Anne Brierly said, “What has been the ethos over the years, has been to help people build a support system.”
The clinic incorporates socio-economic, cultural and personal circumstances in their treatment. Brierly added,”The idea is helping people build on what they already have. Everyone is different with their own experiences. We want to develop a safe space for people to recover. A lot of clinics have a method of breaking some one down to build them up again. And that is not what our team is about.”
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Their work places a great emphasis on community, with the Ubuntu Academy of Training and Coaching programme which they use to train recovery coaches. Brierly said the programme was their attempt to give support to other communities, by bringing residents from various parts of Johannesburg together and training them in giving much-needed support to their own community.
“A lot of the time, people don’t want us coming there and telling them how to live. It’s much better to develop a close community resource through the recovery coaches, who can give assistance,” she added.
“They can come in for the training, and go back into their communities, churches, schools, families and organisations to give support. The programme gives people the training to listen and communicate. A lot of people don’t listen and by the time someone comes to us, they have had everyone telling them what to do and how to do it.”
The clinic’s emphasis on listening to people seeking treatment is underlined by its founder David Collins who said, “Addiction is one illness that everyone has an opinion about… It’s a stigmatised illness.
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“The one thing that makes us different is that we always see our client as well, even if they are high or using, we see them in a space of wellness. Whereas, the rest of the world will pathologise or moralise. They will think that they can’t make their own decisions, and they tell them what they need.
“That is very disempowering and takes away responsibility for the person for their own wellness.”
The clinic seeks to break away from harmful systemic ideas of addiction. Brierly said that they are looking to create collaborations for treatment and education.
Residents who are interested in the Ubuntu Academy of Training and Coaching programme can visit the website at uact.org.za.
Details: Foundation Clinic 011 728 9200
