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Description
The activities under the project are to contribute to change the functioning of the domestic violence prevention system, and thus to reducing the scale of this phenomenon. The main goal of the project will be to detect dysfunctional behaviours at the early prevention stage. Achievement of this goal will be possible thanks to the in-depth interdisciplinary cooperation of institutions working to prevent violence. A Family Centre will be established in a building specially designed for this purpose. It will be a place known to the local community. The Family Centre will undertake actions aimed at improving the quality of family relationships, actions in the field of broadly understood prevention, but also actions supporting equality between women and men, teaching tolerance and mutual respect. It will also be a place to which you can report in crisis situations requiring quick intervention. As part of the project, there will be a number of activities addressed to specialists who are involved in preventing domestic violence in the commune on a daily basis.
The project provides for activities aimed at supporting equal treatment and preventing exclusion, including combating stereotypes and prejudices, as well as the effects of discrimination. They will be conducted in the form of talks and lectures among the local community, as well as in educational institutions (among students and parents) in the commune.
At every stage of its implementation, the project will assume gender equality in order to prevent discrimination and promote equality between women and men. To ensure the comfort and freedom of the participants, one of the activities within the Project, i.e. the self-defence course, is addressed to women. The planned talks on gender equality, prejudice and racism will play an important role within the project activities.
Summary of project results
In Siemianowice Śląskie, as in many other cities, domestic violence was an increasing social issue. Numerous cases primarily affected women and children, and the existing support system needed strengthening and better coordination between various institutions. In 2021 alone, 101 Blue Card procedures were initiated, highlighting the scale of the challenge. This phenomenon required not only crisis intervention but also preventive and educational actions to counteract violence at an early stage.
There was a lack of a central place to coordinate support for those at risk of violence and to organize preventive and educational activities. Additionally, specialists working in the field of domestic violence prevention needed further training and psychological support to carry out their duties more effectively. Therefore, the "Siemianowice against violence" project was created, funded by the Small Grants Fund under the "Justice" Program. Its main goal was to establish a systematic, interdisciplinary model of support and domestic violence prevention.
To effectively combat domestic violence, the project focused on two main areas:
- Developing a comprehensive domestic violence prevention program
- Enhancing the skills of professionals working in this field
In the first area, we established the Family Center at Wróblewskiego 10 in Siemianowice Śląskie—a space where victims of violence could receive support and participate in educational and preventive activities. Key initiatives included:
- Family Café – A series of meetings for parents and children aimed at strengthening family bonds.
- Educational base and crisis support for families, including skills training:
- Aggression replacement training (ART) for individuals struggling with emotional control.
- Self-defense course for women at risk of domestic violence.
- Self-confidence training for individuals with low self-esteem.
- Talks and lectures:
- For students and parents in schools on domestic violence and aggression.
- At the Crisis Intervention Center and the Social Integration Club.
- For the local community, led by police officers as part of the "Neighborhood Officer Closer to Us" program.
- Individual psychological and legal support, including:
- Psychiatric, psychological, and legal consultations.
- Individual and family therapy.
The second key goal was enhancing the skills of specialists involved in domestic violence prevention. Actions included:
- On-site workshops and a three-day training and integration trip for professionals.
- Supervisions and coaching to support those working with domestic violence victims.
- Hiring a model implementation coordinator at the Family Center.
The "Siemianowice Against Violence" project delivered measurable results, significantly impacting beneficiaries and improving the local domestic violence prevention system.
The Family Center became a recognizable and trusted support center for residents. As a result of the project’s activities, the number of people receiving support increased to 108 (116% of the target value).
Increased social awareness – thanks to educational talks and lectures, residents of Siemianowice Śląskie gained greater knowledge about violence and ways to prevent it. The number of reported domestic violence cases rose from the expected 110 to 122 (111% target achievement), indicating that more people sought help.
Effective interdisciplinary cooperation – within the Family Center, municipal institutions (MOPS, Police, Crisis Intervention Center, Social Integration Club) improved their coordination, leading to more efficient responses to domestic violence cases.
Enhancing professionals’ skills – participation in training, supervisions, and coaching exceeded expectations:
- 65 specialists attended the two-day training (163% target achievement).
- 32 specialists completed supervision (160%).
- 13 specialists underwent coaching (130%).
The "Siemianowice Against Violence" project is a successful example of implementing an interdisciplinary model for combating domestic violence. The creation of the Family Center, community education, psychological support, and the upskilling of professionals significantly improved the situation of residents.
The project increased public awareness of violence and its consequences and established a sustainable support structure that will continue to operate even after the project''s completion.
Through this comprehensive approach, Siemianowice Śląskie has taken a significant step towards more effective domestic violence prevention and improving the quality of life for its residents.