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Description
Under the project, the first Centre for Families will be established in the Łodygowice Municipality. A place where professional psychological services, therapy, legal advice and a social worker will be provided. An integrated model will be implemented, which, after an in-depth analysis, interviews with specialists, will be the most appropriate for the proposed forms of support. The second form of support will be the implementation of activities in school facilities, conducting picnics in the Municipality, and promoting the project on the websites of the Łodygowice Municipality Office and the Municipal Social Assistance Centre. Thanks to the development of the Relational Risk Assessment Tool, employees will be able to determine the type of violence and direct support under a specific case. The expected results of the project will be the creation of a comprehensive domestic violence prevention program and community prevention.
The project complies with the principle of equal opportunities and non-discrimination, including accessibility for people with disabilities. The facility in which the Family Centre will be located is adapted for people with disabilities (a stair climber is installed), in addition, classes will be held on the ground floor of the building.
The project complies with the principle of gender equality.
Summary of project results
The project "Establishing a Family Center in the Łodygowice Municipality" was a response to the increasing issue of domestic violence observed in the Łodygowice Municipality. The project''s activities aimed to prevent and mitigate the effects of domestic violence among the residents of this rural municipality in the Żywiec County, located in the Silesian Voivodeship, Poland.
The direct beneficiaries of the project included families, couples, cohabiting individuals managing a household, and elderly people experiencing disrupted relationships who had become victims of domestic violence. Indirectly, the project also targeted other local residents and professionals—employees of institutions involved in the family violence prevention system in the Łodygowice Municipality.
The project focused on developing mechanisms to curb the worsening of social dysfunctions and to provide support within the local environment, particularly in family settings. As part of the initiative, the Family Center was established in the Łodygowice Municipality, offering professional psychological and therapeutic services, legal counseling, and social work assistance from January 2023 to March 2024. Additionally, an integrated model for combating domestic violence was implemented, tailored to specific target groups.
Another aspect of the project involved preventive measures, including organizing activities in schools, hosting community picnics, and raising awareness about the Family Center’s services. In collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare Center, the project also developed Relationship Risk Assessment Tools for the most vulnerable residents and their families, which helped determine the type of assistance needed and provided targeted support.
The project successfully improved the family violence prevention system in the Łodygowice Municipality. The key outcomes included the creation of a comprehensive domestic violence prevention program and broader community prevention efforts.
As part of this program, the Family Center was established and functioned throughout the project’s duration. Specific initiatives included individual consultations for individuals in relationship crises, support groups, assistance groups, individual consultations for children and adolescents, and training for professionals.
The community prevention efforts involved educational and psychological activities for children, youth, teachers, and parents in schools, community picnics, therapeutic winter break programs for children and adolescents, and promotional activities for the Family Center.