Description
Families with low income, with children, children from unfavorable families are exposed to the social exclusion risk. The project’s aim is to develop basic social services for families with children exposed to social exclusion risk thus promoting their social inclusion, stimulating increase in their well-being and compliance with human rights, as well as strengthening democratic values and reducing social inequality in the community. The main activities within the framework of the project are development of innovative preventative services to reduce social exclusion risks and promote the social inclusion of families with children, including developing a volunteering mentors service and the family group conference method, complex psycho-social support measures for families in a crisis situation, camps. The target group is families with children subject to social exclusion risks and children from families subject to social exclusion risks.
Summary of project results
The Project was necessary for local inhabitants, families with children, especially those living in rural territories of Bauska County where many people have lots of social problems. The main aim of the Project was to develop and provide social services for the disadvantaged families with children. There were in total 129 families with 271 children who benefited from the Project’s activities: the necessary support including psycho-social work with families and counseling was provided for the target group in SOS Family Support Centres in Bauska and Valmiera by the following specialists: social workers, psychologists, lawyers, family assistants. Work with the target group was ensured not only individually but also by organizing support groups for parents raising children with disabilities, for women suffering from domestic violence. One of the project’s innovative social work activities was the piloting of the Family Group Conference method in the social work. As sustainability of Project’s activities some of the families still continue to receive support also after the end of the Project, provided and financed by SOS Children’s Villages Latvia. The results gained by the Project will be maintained and ensured by the SOS Children’s Villages Latvia, as much as possible in cooperation with local municipalities. The Project was implemented in partnership with the Association SOS Children’s Villages Norway and Bauska County Social Service Department. SOS Children’s Villages Norway provided the exchange of know-how regarding introduction of Family Group Conference method. Bauska County Social Service Department was supportive everyday’s partner in Project implementation: in assessment and referral of potential clients, providing premises for Project’s activities, as well as helping in dissemination of Project’s information and good practices.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner provided the involvement of a foreign expert to the family group conference trainings. After the trainings, the expert also provided consultations and supervisions for specialists who were leading the family group conferences.