Description
The main objective of the project is to increase the capacity of the prison staff in places of deprivation of liberty for the implementation of specialized programs for rehabilitation. The project will develop two specialized programs for prisoners with mental health problems and intellectual disability, as well as training prison officers to implement these specialized re-socialization programs. The main challenges are the lack of training of staff to work with these specific groups of prisoners and lack of adequate programs designed to work with persons with mental health problems and intellectual disability. The work in most cases is limited to the implementation of literacy programs. The project stems from the need of revision of the re-socialization efforts of the Bulgarian penitentiary system. The target group includes employees of prisons in Bulgaria - a total of 50 persons. In particular the target group is mainly composed of social activities/ rehabilitation inspectors, psychologists and psychiatrists. The group will include a number of prison guards too.
Summary of project results
The need for the project is related to the lack of trained personnel in Bulgarian prisons to work with the vulnerable groups of prisoners with low intellectual level and with mental health problems. The results achieved could be divided into two directions. Firstly, the study of the needs of prison staff by applying focus groups surveys, anonymous questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and a review of existing training programs. This vast work took place in all 12 prisons in the country and in the reformatory Boychinovtsi. A key theoretical contribution has been made by the project partner, a leading Bulgaria university. Secondly, the obtained information has been used for the development of two specialized programs, as well as the respective curricula, and for conducting training. The training programs have been designed so as to target treatment of the two concerned groups - prisoners with low intellectual level and prisoners with mental health problems, as the corresponding handbooks have been provided. in total 50 prison staff members have passed training on how to implement the two specialized programs, including 10 trainers. evaluate the effectiveness of training programs developed. Two experts have developed a matrix The PP carried out an internal assessment of the quality of the training material, as its final versions and the handbooks have been examined and a a report drafted. Two supervisions have been also completed - supervision of trained trainers and supervision of trained staff who will implement specialized programs. The project provided adequate programs designed for working with persons with mental disorders and those with low intellectual level. The staff capacity in the field has been also enhanced.
Summary of bilateral results