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Description
Lithuanian University of Health & Sciences revealed that Lithuania ranks highest in terms of alcohol consumption and smoking by children and youth in Europe (one out of six children or young adults tends to consume alcohol regularly, one out of ten use tobacco products daily, one out of twelve respondents had used cannabis in the last 30 days, and one out of sixth children or young adults had early sexual experience). In order to improve this situation it is particularly important to strengthen social support system in schools and in the family itself.
Therefore, Public institution "Šeimos santykių institutas" is implementing the project aimed to improve prevention possibilities for health inequalities by strengthening the competencies of social workers and other professionals who will provide effective support services directly to children with special needs and their family members.
The main tasks of the project are:
a) to adapt and transform developed support mechanisms and its methods to a regional level (train local professionals and families).
b) to apply developed support mechanisms for children and young people with behavioural and emotional difficulties via practical professional work.
Project and its new support mechanism will be implemented in 9 Lithuanian municipalities.
Summary of project results
The project aim was to improve prevention possibilities for health inequalities by strengthening the competencies of social workers and other professionals who will provide effective support services directly to children with special needs and their family members.
Project and its support mechanism was implemented in Jurbarkas, Klaipėda city, Klaipėda district, Mažeikiai, Palanga, Plungė, Skuodas, Šilalė and Tauragė municipalities. During the implementation of the project support mechanism guidelines have been issued, training for specialists working with the target group was organized. Trained specialists provided individual and group counseling to children and young people with behavioral and emotional difficulties and their family members.
During the implementation of the project support mechanism was adapted and developed to a regional level. Support mechanism was applied for children and young people with behavioral and emotional difficulties via practical professional work. Individual help and group support was provided for more than 144 children and their families for members in 9 municipalities.