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Description
The project aims to improve the functioning of the system of preventing domestic violence against people 65+ and people with disabilities. The result of the project will be an increase in awareness and an increase in the level of knowledge in the field of the problem of violence and the possibility of obtaining support, a change of attitudes and better coping with domestic violence by 65+ people and the disabled people, improvement of the quality of services provided to target groups, integration of local communities providing assistance, and improvement of interdisciplinary cooperation in this area. Activities under the Project consist of: employment of specialists providing psychological, legal and psychiatric support for the target group, training for specialists in the field of preventing violence and for people providing support, workshops for young people with disabilities, lectures for people aged 65+, a campaign increasing social awareness including the festival and conference, equipping places where assistance is provided with pictograms, organizing support groups for guardians of dependent people.
The Project Promoter will ensure the availability of the project by adjusting the project announcements and recruitment criteria to the needs of the Final Beneficiaries and wide dissemination of the recruitment announcement (also via the Internet). The support will take place in a building adapted to the needs of the disabled, the same applies to the project office. Support will be provided both in the morning and in the afternoon to increase its availability.
The project complies with the principle of gender equality, women and men in the project are assigned the same social value, equal rights and obligations, as well as equal access to social resources.
Summary of project results
The goal of the “Strength is in Us” Project implemented by the Municipality of the City of Pulawy was: to develop a local system of counteracting violence against people 65+ and people with disabilities and their families in Pulawy. The main objectives of the project were:
1. development of support for people experiencing domestic violence belonging to groups with special needs: psychological, legal, psychiatric.
2. development of prevention in the field of family violence prevention - education and support for people 65+, people with disabilities and their caregivers.
3. education of services working in the area of counteracting family violence and working with people 65+ and people with disabilities.
4. increase the competence of caregivers of the elderly and disabled.
5. recognition of the phenomenon of violence against the elderly and disabled.
The elderly and people with disabilities- received psychological, legal, psychiatric assistance. Support was provided by phone, online and at the place of residence of those who had difficulty reaching a specialist due to functional limitations. A series of lectures and talks were held for the elderly, workshops for young people with intellectual disabilities. A festival with the participation of project participants and residents of the city of Pulawy was also organized and held.Two support groups were implemented for caregivers of the elderly and disabled. Caregivers took part in training in taking care of their mental and physical condition.These included social workers, caregivers providing care and specialized services, nurses from long-term care, employees of institutions working for the elderly and disabled. With them in mind, training sessions were held on the phenomenon of violence, its prevention, rules of contact with people affected by violence. For participants in the “Blue Cards” procedure, that is, police officers, social workers, representatives of the Municipal Commission for the Solution of Alcohol Problems, court probation officers, representatives of education and health care, training courses were organized to deepen knowledge of the problem of violence against the elderly and disabled, communication with such people and working with them. During the Project period, activities were also carried out to increase the level of knowledge of Pulawy residents about the phenomenon of violence against the elderly and disabled. A social campaign was conducted, and as part of it, among other things, information and educational materials, media messages on local TV, radio, in the press and on the Internet were distributed. A conference was also held with the participation of communities working for the elderly, the disabled and dealing with the problem of violence in the city of Pulawy.
Thanks to the information, promotion of the project and activities provided for by the project, the level of knowledge and awareness of the residents of Pulawy regarding the problem of violence against the elderly and disabled has increased, and the competence of services and people providing support has increased.
Thanks to the planned and undertaken activities during the Project, it was possible to achieve the planned main objective, i.e. the development of a local system for counteracting violence against people 65+ and people with disabilities and their families in Pulawy. Many activities continue after the end of the Project (psychological support, support group, educational classes for seniors). The project has contributed to building a more integrated and supportive community in the city of Pulawy, as well as, in the long term, will contribute to better support for those at risk of or experiencing violence. In summary: participation in the project and active involvement of employees in all project activities allowed to gain knowledge and experience, which will be used in the creation of strategies or design of services that in the future the Beneficiary will be able to offer to residents of the city of Pulawy.