Description
The project’s aim is to promote welfare of families with children who have suffered from violence, promoting non-violent child-raising skills of these families sustainability of a respective social rehabilitation service in institutions and at homes. The project activities will include training of specialists of the crisis centres on non-violent child-raising methods, practical application of the acquired theoretical knowledge in individual consultations and specialized family camps, provision of international experience to the senior staff of the centres, provision of supervisions to the crisis centers staff, as well as elaboration and approbation of innovative methodology for the municipalities’ social workers. All activities designed in order to provide a complex and sustainable solution of the identified problems to the target group (children who have suffered from violence, their families, NGO representing their interests and rights, incl. volunteers).
Summary of project results
One of the major problems that cause unfavourable conditions for harmonized development of a child is abuse, violence. 7 specialized centres in Latvia provide social rehabilitation for abused children within state financing in Latvia. Statistics shows that most of all abuse cases against children – 85 % happen in families. High prevalence of domestic violence causes the necessity to draw special attention especially to the families.Realizing situation on spread of domestic violence against children in Latvia following aim of the project “Raising Chil Non-violently!” was set: to promote welfare in families of abused children in Latvia, by developing parent skills on non-violent raising of children and sustainability of provided social rehabilitation service in institutions and living places. In the result of the project target groups received not only theoretical but also practical knowledge and skills how to raise the welfare in families where children suffered from abuse not only in the short-term, but also in the long-term. Project activities included several complex measures (incl. innovative) for target groups (abused children, their families, NGO’s who provide and administrate social abused children’s rehabilitation, professionals and volunteers of these NGO’s). Project results are important for improvement of life and work quality of the target groups: 51 specialist received training and supervisions on methods of non-violent child care; specialists continue to use these knowledge at their everyday work.During the project 46 families during 7 specialized summer camps learned one of the most basic skills – raising of their children (how to prepare for common events (walk to the beach etc.), how to organize their common time, free time, how to play different games together and to learn; Specialists of NGO participated in 4 methodological seminars to develop a common understanding; Managers of NGO have participated in 12 specifically professional and general supervisions; Developed methodology “Psychosocial work with family to prevent abuse against children” that is distributed to all social offices in the local municipalities in Latvia. The methodology was developed as a practical tool for local social office providing a guide how to work with abused children at their living places who have received professional social rehabilitation in specialized crises or support centres and have returned to their families.
Summary of bilateral results
Successful realization of the project and reaching all results was ensured also by successful cooperation with both project partners. The partner is a leading organization in Iceland working to eliminate sexual abuse of children and whose activities are focused on preventive work with adults, including the children’s families. The partner was responsible for organizing of the experience exchange visit for managers of NGO. The partner’s experience was used in elaboration of the methodological material.