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Description
The aim of the project is to increase the availability and effectiveness of psychological support for families in the Wielkopolska Region with children aged 0-7 experiencing or at risk of emotional violence in the family. We want to implement preventive measures aimed at counteracting social exclusion of families that need help presently, as well as children from such families in the future. The scale of the phenomenon of domestic violence against children in Poland is illustrated by the Empowering Children Foundation’s research report of 2018. The data revealed that 41% of children experienced domestic violence from close adults – 33% of children were victims of physical violence, and 20% of psychological violence. Data from the the Municipal Family Assistance Centre in Poznan (2020) shows that professional support for families where violence was suspected was offered to 4346 people and 1623 ‘Blue Card’ procedures were initiated. A lack of professional support can lead to serious and permanent disorders in the psychological and physical functioning of a child and later adults. Abused children should receive help as early as possible, so that they can cope with effects of traumatic experiences more effectively. The project has two target groups. The first are children and their families who will be offered psychological counseling, take part in workshops and therapeutic groups. The second group is professionals working with families in need of help. We will provide them with training on the most difficult problems related to trauma (relational, developmental), as well as supervision and consultation. Participation in the project will enable the professionals to increase their competences necessary to effectively support families affected by domestic violence against children.
Summary of project results
The primary goal of the project was focused on counteracting domestic violence and, as a result, minimizing the social exclusion of families requiring help, as well as of children from these families in the future. We focus on early prevention because the consequences of emotional abuse of children are usually extensive and lasting, often traumatic in nature and determine the disruption or disruption of development throughout life, reducing its quality during childhood and adulthood. Children who suffer abuse, and later adults, experience a number of difficulties in social functioning, hence they are often exposed to social exclusion. As a result of harmful experiences, they have fewer chances to fully develop their potential (physical, intellectual, emotional, social), and in many aspects they achieve a level of functioning that is lower than possible. In everyday life, they struggle with numerous negative consequences of their experiences (e.g. depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome), which makes it more difficult for them to establish social relationships and become fully active participants in social life. As a result, they often remain on its periphery.
As part of the project, we proposed the following activities:
PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATIONS – Specialist assistance in the field of individual relationship problems, with particular emphasis on minimizing harmful parent-child interactions.
COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGED 0-7 - Visits to facilities (kindergartens, nurseries, local social welfare centers) and home visits.
CIRCLE OF SECURITY® PARENTING WORKSHOPS – FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN 1-7 YEARS OLD – Workshops intended for parents interested in improving the quality of relationships with their children, building and strengthening secure attachment in children. The classes were based on the Polish adaptation of the Circle of Security® Parenting TM program.
"MOMMY AND ME" WORKSHOPS FOR MOTHERS WITH BABIES - Meetings of the "Mommy and Me" group of mothers with babies were aimed at working with difficulties at the beginning of parenthood.
"FUN" THERAPEUTIC GROUP FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-6 - Meetings of a therapeutic group for children who have difficulties functioning in a group (resulting from abusive relationships with their parents).
TRAINING FOR TEACHERS IN KINDERGARTENS AND NURSERY – Training on recognizing child abuse and supporting children.
TRAINING AND SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION MEETINGS FOR SPECIALISTS - Training on recognizing emotional abuse and intervening in this area.
LECTURE FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM FOR PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – Lecture on recognizing abuse in families with small children.
DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN EDUCATIONAL BROCHURE FOR PARENTS – an educational brochure on developmental trauma and its impact on parenting.
ACTIVATION OF BENEFICIARIES - Recipients of activities carried out under the project were asked to present in writing their impressions of participation in the project. We publish fragments of the statement on the Foundation''s Facebook profile.
Thanks to the activities carried out as part of the YOU ARE NOT ALONE program, it was possible to directly support 126 families participating in therapeutic and/or workshop meetings, both at the Foundation''s headquarters and in their own environment. 1,018 in-office psychological consultations and 60 community visits were conducted, 4 editions of the CIRCLE of Security Parenting™ WORKSHOPS, "MOMMY AND ME" workshops for mothers with infants, and a series of meetings of the "ZABAWNIK" THERAPEUTIC GROUP FOR CHILDREN AGED 3-6 ; 73 parents took part in activities aimed at preventing abuse as part of the BENEFICIARIES'' ACTIVATION, providing comments on the difficulties of parenting and experiences gained from participating in the activities offered by the Foundation, which were posted on the Foundation''s Facebook profile. Three editions of TRAINING FOR TEACHERS IN KINDERGARTENS AND NURSES, as well as TRAINING AND SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION MEETINGS FOR SPECIALISTS were carried out. 44 professionals used them. As part of the project, over 5,000 copies of an EDUCATIONAL BROCHURE for parents entitled WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?, which provides accessible information about the impact of developmental trauma on experiences in relationships with one''s own children. Thanks to the grant obtained, as part of institutional development, it was also possible to improve the qualifications of the Foundation''s team through training and supervision, modernize the Foundation''s headquarters and website, and purchase equipment necessary to run its activities.