Council of Europe supported the first specialised learning programme for trainers on the Substance Use Programme for rehabilitation of offenders under probation. This event brought together psychologists from Probation and Penitentiary Services as well as from the “Centre for Legal Education and Rehabilitative Programmes” with the aim at enhancing their knowledge and preparing to train others in rehabilitation practises.  

This intensive 3-day training-of-trainers is part of a comprehensive training programme developed in 2024 that provides a unified approach to helping substance users in a group setting offering both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice.

The training was an opportunity for exchanges and in-depth discussions, learning and renewing the commitment of the participants to continuous improvement. The forthcoming piloting of the programme, set to roll out in Yerevan and one regional office, will provide an opportunity for the trainees to put newly acquired skills into practice, fostering positive change among probationers.

Receiving positive feedback from participants, as a practical tool that can apply directly in daily work with beneficiaries with certain addictions, this the first programme of this kind in Armenia.  

This event is part of the Project “Further strengthening the Probation Service in Armenia” and represents a major milestone in the ongoing collaboration between the Council of Europe and this country. Funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026, the project demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing probation services and effective rehabilitation practices.