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Description
The aim of the project is to provide child victims or witnesses of violence and their families with access to free psychological and therapeutic support. Every year in the Warmian-Masurian Province more than 1,500 children fall victim to crime and need specialist support. As part of the project, an interdisciplinary support centre has been founded for children and their families living in the city of Olsztyn and the surrounding area. While creating it we are using tried and tested solutions that work worldwide. Experience in other countries shows that the best model for helping child victims is to provide interdisciplinary support in a specialised centre, where children and their families receive medical, psychological, legal and social support in the same spot. Examples of such facilities are the Children`s Advocacy Centres in the USA, that have been operating for more than 30 years, and the Barnahus centres in Iceland. In Poland, Children`s Advocacy Centres are similar, but adapted to the reality of Poland. They are run by the Empowering Children Foundation alone or in cooperation with other NGOs in 5 cities : Warsaw, Gdańsk, Starogard Gdański, Białystok and Głogów. All facilities meet the standards developed in 2017 by an international group of experts. This means that the same specialists will manage the case of a child who comes into the Centre''s care from start to finish, and at regular team meetings they will jointly decide what kind of support the child needs at any given time. The centre''s interdisciplinary team works in cooperation with local services. In doing so, it assures that the child''s rights are protected and that the children will receive appropriate support, help and access to child-friendly justice.
Summary of project results
The implementation of the project involved the creation of an interdisciplinary aid facility operating based on proven solutions. The problem indicated in the application was the unavailability of places providing assistance to children who have been victims of crime. We based our implementation on the experience of other countries: interdisciplinary assistance in the local environment, in a specialized facility, where under one roof the child and family receive medical, psychological, legal and social assistance and a guarantee of participation in friendly procedures. A model example is the Children''s Advocacy Center in the USA, which has existed for over 30 years and serves as a model for many institutions, including the Icelandic Barnahus, which in turn has become a reference point for similar centers being established in Europe. Such a model, adapted to Polish legal realities, is implemented by Children''s Aid Centers (CPD) run by the Empowering Dziejom Foundation or in cooperation with it by non-governmental organizations in several cities.
Thanks to the implementation of the project, children victims of violence and their families (from the Olsztyn area and the voivodeship) were provided with access to free individual and group psychological and therapeutic assistance. Moreover, thanks to the conferences and trainings held, it was possible to reach many institutions and organizations with information on the issue.
Our greatest challenge and goal was to launch a place in Olsztyn where help would be provided professionally, based on the latest knowledge and research data, and in an interdisciplinary manner.
- a Children''s Help Center was established, which continues to support children and their non-abusive caregivers,
- cooperation was established with the local Institutions
-10 agreements on cooperation in the field of protecting children against abuse were signed. Certify with documents. agreements are signed
.- 2500 hours completed specialist support (psychological and therapeutic help) for children, parents/guardians.
- 150 hours of tailor-made support were implemented
-120 hours of group therapeutic assistance
- 80 hours of group support for parents or guardians of children with PTSD
- 10 educational meetings were held. for parents and guardians
- 10 supervision meetings were held for the project team.
- 10 supervision meetings were held for representatives of facilities and institutions (5 people). - 60 hours of training were completed for people professionally working with children.
- the availability of free specialist help for crime victims has increased.
- implementation of proven therapeutic programs.
- systemic support for the child and non-abusive caregivers, reduction of mental, emotional and social damage
- helping the child and family to the extent that allows for social acceptance. Documents confirming the above-mentioned activity cards from individual meetings with a psychologist and therapist are helpful,
- access to knowledge and competence development among specialists has increased.
- strengthening cooperation with the Empowering Children Foundation.
The main benefit is the fact that injured children have a place that provides free, comprehensive help. Since the beginning of the project, reports have been regularly received regarding support for injured children. We responded to a need that had been neglected.
The main benefit is the fact that injured children have a place that provides free, comprehensive help. Since the beginning of the project, reports have been regularly received regarding support for injured children. We responded to a need that had been neglected. We have exceeded police statistics - according to the Municipal Police Headquarters, 25-35 cases of sexual violence against children are registered annually. In one quarter, 30-60 children who have been victims of violence report to us, including approximately 75% (over 40 cases) of children who have suffered sexual violence.
Further achievements: interest in the topic, willingness to help, readiness to donate the premises to the future CPD, - openness of various institutions to cooperation (invitation to cooperate with the Court, Counseling Center, Education Department of the Municipal Office, requests for training
- a place that responds to the needs of abused children and their parents who have not had the opportunity to use professional help and support so far, - the staff working with abused children is sensitive and ready to respond quickly, connecting and being aware of their limitations.
After completion of the project: - continuation of CPD operations was ensured by providing a new, larger premises as the target location - free of charge, only for operating costs. - The city of Olsztyn provided partial financing from its own budget, further funds were obtained from the National Institute of Freedom, business contacts were established, which the goal is to provide financing (development of fundraising) - it remains to expand the team with additional specialists, increase the number of full-time positions and people in the first contact, renovate the new premises, further education and development of the team''s competences