Association Casa Famiglia Rosetta

The Association “Casa Famiglia Rosetta” was established in the early '80s, in Caltanissetta, as an organization promoted by volunteers. At present, it operates in Italy as well as in Brazil and in Tanzania, organizing socio-health services and Continuing Medical Education and training for the treatment personnel on clinical practice, the promotion of human rights, soft skills, and on current social policies.  

 ACFR is committed to promote the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the following actions:

  • contribute to reducing  poverty by sustaining work - including women and young people - also by promoting microcredit projects, especially in Tanzania and Brazil, where ACFR is currently committed to local development;
  • put humanization and best practices, experience and professionalism, in health and social services, both in drug use disorders and psycho-physical impairments and non communicable diseases, towards ensuring a healthy life and promoting the well-being for all;
  • contrast the spreading of HIV infection and AIDS by sustaining the  access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it, especially orphan children who are living with HIV/AIDS in developing Countries;
  • contrast drug use and abuse, promoting a Drug Free Life among the young generations and reduce drug demand, especially in countries where there is an increase of people becoming consumers due to drug trafficking (e.g. Tanzania).
  • sustain a comprehensive, holistic and spiritual approach to the drug abuse treatment; 
  • promote gender equality, empower women and fight violence against women in difficulty, because of their fragility;
  • offer quality and evidence-based health services in cooperation with other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders;
  • promote and share with the staff and the volunteers a spirit of  cooperation  and an attitude of service with the purpose of stimulating a constant improvement of the quality of services offered, through lifelong education and training of staff and professionals;
  • promote and develop improvement and respect of each resource devoted to guaranteeing the best organization and the most proper management of the services towards the person.

ACFR Training and Commitments 

1. Training of ACFR personnel  

 ACFR is committed to lifelong learning and training for its staff and professionals.

  • In addition to crosscutting training - on soft skills, for example – Staff attend monthly training sessions on treatment, prevention and recovery updates regarding SUD held by prof. Umberto Nizzoli, Psychologist and psychotherapist, expert on SUD Treatment. 
  • ACFR celebrates the annual International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and the World AIDS Day, organizing conferences and training courses addressed to professionals and stakeholders at the Regional and National level.

2.  Training offered to personnel of public and private organizations at regional and national level

  • On December 12th 2019, a one–day Training Course for professionals in SUD Treatment and Prevention was held in Caltanissetta by ACFR in collaboration with the Italian National Agency for Regional Healthcare Services (AGENAS) regarding Continuing Medical Education (ECM).
  • Since October 2017, a three-year University Degree course for Professional Educators has  been carried out in Partinico (Palermo) and Caltanissetta. This activity is ongoing.
  • On June 30th 2017, a one-day Training Course addressed to professionals for SUD Treatment and Prevention was held by ACFR in Caltanissetta in collaboration with CEARS (Sicilian Organization of the Local Agency and Therapeutic Community for SUD), and the Italian National Agency for Regional Healthcare Services (AGENAS) regarding Continuing Medical Education (ECM).
  • Starting in October 2016, in collaboration with the Pontificia University “Auxilium” of Rome, ACFR delivered a 1500-hour Master Training course for Professionals working in the field of Drug Dependence, in Caltanissetta.
  • On May 15th 2015, in collaboration with SITD (Italian Society on Drug Dependence) and (ECM), ACFR organized a one-day Meeting on “Alcohol dependency and psychosocial treatment”, in Gela (Caltanissetta).

3. International training and educational activities in treatment, prevention and recovery

  • As far as the educational and training activities on drug prevention and treatment and recovery, during the past twenty years, ACFR carried out numerous training courses at the international level on behalf of the USA Department of State - INL and the United Nations. Following is a list of the major training activities undertaken.
  • Numerous educational activities have been carried out during the past years, with a specific attention towards Tanzania, where the ACFR is committed to promoting human rights, local development and culture and ethical issues regarding diversity, which is considered an asset in its humanizing value in the world.
  • At present, ACFR Project on Capacity Building and Awareness – Raising on Treatment and Prevention of Drug Use Disorders, both in urban and rural areas, in Tanzania. The Project, under the auspices of UNODC, started in August 2019 and will close in January 2021. Among the activities, a complete basic level UTC Training course will be held, directed to professionals coming from the Region of Tanga in Tanzania. Trainers for this activity are selected among the certified UTC Master Trainers - Colombo Plan.
  • From 15 April to 4 May 2012, in collaboration with Colombo Plan Secretariat, ACFR implemented the GROW (Guiding Recovery of Women) Training of Afghan Female Treatment Practitioners attended by 34 Afghan women. The following GROW Trainers came from the USA: Dr Maryann Eldbert, Dr Phyllis Mayo, Dr Sandra Lawson, Ms Franchesta Wilson, Dr Dolores Finder Wright, Ms Paula Kinchen and Kahatera Alizada.
  • From 2009 to 2011, ACFR carrying out a two-year Project, named TreatNet II Phase, which was a part of the Global Project GLOJ71 of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC). With the TreatNet II phase project, that lasted until 2011, ACFR implemented National training with a cascade effect, developing good practices for more than 2000 professionals  working in the field of Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of drug abuse and its health consequences, in three African countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Mozambique.
  • In 2010, ACFR received in Sicily (Caltanissetta) a group of 40 professionals on SUD treatment and Prevention, coming from St. Petersburg (Russia) for a Project on Educational Tourism. They met staff and experts on SUD for the exchange of best practices on recovery and treatment.
  • In 2009, ACFR was granted the status of Organization in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, in recognition of the commitment that ACFR has demonstrated at the international level during the years.
  • From 15 to 17May 2006, thanks to the collaboration with the US Department of State, INL., ACFR organized the “Forum for Africa” in Terrasini-Palermo on the treatment of HIV/AIDS with the participation of representatives of political institutions, diplomatic delegations in Italy, religious leaders, doctors, members of NGOs from Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania.
  • On behalf of the World Network on Drug Prevention, ACFR organized the Fifth World Conference on Drug Prevention, from the 22nd to the 29th September 2003 in Rome.
  • On behalf of the World Network on Drug Prevention, from 25 to 29 September 2000, the Third World Conference on Drug Prevention was organised by ACFR in Terrasini - Palermo (Sicily), with the participation of 700 delegates from 72 nations and 5 continents.
  • In the period 1998-1999, on behalf of the USA Department of State - INL, ACFR trained more than 700 professionals working in the field of drug addiction and treatment from Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Belarus Republic and Moldavia).

 Publishing

The ACFR through its Foundation “Alessia” carries out an intensive editorial activity with the publication of numerous books and reviews concerning research in various fields. It also publishes the three-monthly academic review “Solidarietà”, which deals with specialized issues concerning socio-healthcare. As well, through its own Publishing Company, ACFR prints volumes of the series “Società e Storia” which contain essays on socio-cultural topics and the two series “Biblioteca di Solidarietà” and “Prospettive”.