Description
Project aims to improve an inefficient system of empowering youth leaving care and education facilities. Project involves training of individuals who help the youth at risk of marginalization (by and large, beneficiaries of foster care, rehabilitation and therapeutic facilities) in accordance with the model developed by the project promoter based on the work of the pupil, his/her family and social environment. The teams implementing the model in their own institutions will be able to benefit from the advice and consultation. Forty-five people will be trained to act as assistants of independent living, ten teams will consult the programs they have implemented.
Summary of project results
"The independence and self-sufficiency system preparing fostered children for adult life remains the weakest social policy link. The quality of intangible assistance and the way independence mentors perform their duties remain questionable (PBS report, 2012). The shortage of well-trained staff is the main obstacle to change. The purpose of the project was to promote a model of working with fostered children aged 14-17 in local communities, said model involving a simultaneous process of working on a future adult's independence and co-operating with his/her family and social environment. Forty-five persons were trained as independence mentors. Each participant began working with one foster child, their co-operation including a needs, problems, and potential diagram, as well as an independence roadmap programme. Furthermore, teams representing 12 non-governmental organisations implementing the independence model analysed all encountered issues in tandem with the association's specialists, allowing for a better understanding of children's needs and potential forms of assistance. Future assistants (3 groups, total: 45 persons) were trained in a series of workshops in the following areas: educational skills, problem diagnostics, assistance programme design (3 x 6 days, 180 hours in total). Twenty-two consultation meetings (120 hours, teams of 3-12, 59 participants in total) were held for 12 organisations already in the process of implementing the independence model. Direct project beneficiaries included 93 persons working with young people from dysfunctional families and 45 foster children who began developing their independence projects in co-operation with trained assistants. Future beneficiaries will include young people supported by assistants representing 26 organisations from throughout Poland. Working with the partner organisation, the project team was exposed to solutions and procedures applied in the Norwegian social welfare, health protection, and education system."
Summary of bilateral results
"The main achievements on a bilateral level is improved knowledge and understanding about foster care system in Norway, methods of family help in crisis. What is similar and what is different in that area in our countries. Exchange of experience, about foster care system in Norway, methods of family help in crisis. The bilateral partnership result is also: two person from norwegian team who decided take part in longterm studium in our society. They learn how to help families with children (polish and norwegian). "