MAGDALÉNA, o.p.s.
prevention and treatment of addiction

History of the organisation

1997

The Magdaléna public benefit organisation founded on 7th November 1997 by Ms. Marie Kaplanová and the town of Mníšek pod Brdy for the purpose of providing treatment and resocialisation programmes for persons addicted to narcotic substances.

1998

Therapeutic community for 13 clients opens on 1st December 1998 on the premises of the ‘Včelník’ former army missile base in Mníšek pod Brdy. Repairs to parts of original barracks buildings to be used by the community and as a farm for work therapy.

1999

Psychiatric outpatient clinic specialising in addiction therapy opens on the Včelník premises in Mníšek pod Brdy. Launch of systematic programme for relatives of clients of therapeutic community in Prague. ‘1st Cultural festival: Magdaléna therapeutic community begins tradition of cultural festivals for therapeutic communities in the Czech Republic. Beginning of cooperation with local parish, first visit of Cardinal Miloslav Vlk and beginning of voluntary work for Magdaléna.

2000

Opening of sheltered accommodation clients (capacity: 5). Clients of Magdaléna therapeutic community publish V úle (‘In the Beehive’) client magazine. 1st stage of reconstruction one third of main building for sheltered accommodation, dining area and common room. Refurbishment of premises of protected workshops for carpentry and gardening workshops.

2001

Start of supported employment of clients in carpentry and gardening workshops (capacity: 5 positions). Capacity of therapeutic community increased to 14 and beginning of tradition of ringing the ‘Prokop’ bell to mark the conclusion of treatment. Beginning of many years of cooperation with ICE (Iniziative Christen für Europe). First volunteer from Germany spends a year with the therapeutic community programme. Refurbishment of separate building for sheltered accommodation, water-tank, setting-up of production line for the manufacture of ecological briquettes made from waste wood.

2002

Capacity of residential programmes increased to 21. Income from main and supplementary activities exceed 20% of organisation’s total income for the first time. Donations from sponsors reach 1,600,000 CZK and help to balance temporary fall in financial resources.

2003

2nd stage of refurbishment of main building (new windows, balconies, bridge, insulation of part of facade). 80 clients, of whom 60 have been drug-free for an extended period of time, have undergone residential programmes in the first 5 years of operation.

2004

Publication of specialist text “Therapeutic community for drug addicts I.” Joint organisation of addiction therapy conference for Central Bohemia Region. Start of international cooperation with other therapeutic communities in Europe. Construction of well, root purifiers for waste water, insulation of facade.

2005

Joint organisation of national addiction therapy conference with J.A. Purkyně Czech Medical Association (CzMA). Granting of professional certificate to therapeutic community programme by the Government Council for the Coordination of Anti-Drug Policy. Visit by M. Kooyman, European expert on therapeutic centres, to Magdaléna. Official transfer of buildings on the premises of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic to the ownership of the organisation. Cooperation on the creation of a ‘Concept for healthcare and social services for addicts in the Central Bohemia Region’. Increased number of positions available in the client supported employment programme.

2006

Organisation becomes a training centre for students of addictology from the 1st Medical Faculty of Charles University and students of Prešov University (Slovakia). Opening of Follow-Up Care Centre in Prague 4 - Podolí. Magdaléna therapeutic community accepted as a member of the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC). Total capacity of residential programmes increased to 23. Preparations for acceptance of K-centre Benešov into the organisation.

Special thanks to the following for their exceptional contribution to the organisation in its history so far: