More information
Description
A study we conducted among 13 organizations working with children and young people using the streetworking (outreach) method revealed that 25% of streetworkers have not received training on using this method. Only six organizations conduct regular training to improve working skills, 30% of the organizations examined do not supervise their employees in any way, and 25% do not evaluate the programs being conducted. This situation has implications for the effectiveness of measures taken in an open environment. The project aims to improve the quality of services provided by streetworker organizations that work to help vulnerable children or young people. We will deal with education and provide support for other organizations that work with children and young people. We will conduct eight training sessions on methodology for streetworker work, tailored to needs and expectations of particular organizations, and 40 one-day supervisions. We also expect to take additional supervision action (to resolve specific problems). We also envisage diagnostic measures aimed at updating the approach and methodology for working in an open community (detailed diagnosis of problems of streetworker organizations - 30 interviews, cooperation workshops for representatives of organizations that are subject to qualitative examination, a publication containing an analysis of needs and problems). We will organize meetings with representatives of local government authorities with which our member organizations work, to talk about the possibility of introducing the model produced for working to help children, young people, and young adults. As a result of these measures, a report will be produced making a suggestion for a local government authority concerning the system of support for children and young people using streetworking, and professional working methods will be formulated for ten organizations that work with vulnerable children and young people. 60 people will receive training.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the need to improve the quality of services provided by streetwork organisations working with children and young people at risk of exclusion. The idea of streetwork is not widely known or understood and is therefore often underestimated, undervalued and underfunded. Meanwhile, the quality of these services depends on the professionalisation of the people involved in this work. A large proportion of street workers have never received any training for their work and only gain knowledge and experience in action, "on the street". Only a part of the organisation provides regular training to improve the workshop, supervises the team and evaluates the activities.
The promoter supported 25 streetwork organisations working with children and young people. 10 trainings on streetwork methodology were conducted, tailored to the needs and expectations of each organisation. The trainings covered issues such as working with socially excluded families and the phenomenon of ''children on the street'', recruiting children for regular work, working with families, pedagogical workshop, tools for effective work or monitoring and evaluation. More than 50 supervision sessions were held for youth workers, covering issues such as problems in recruiting children into street groups, difficult behaviour of children during activities, ways of resolving conflicts in a group of children, building a good relationship with families. The work with refugee children from Ukraine and the difficulties in street work due to the new situation was also an important topic during the supervision support. Based on the diagnosis of the situation and needs of the street work organisations and the cooperation workshops, two publications were produced: "S.O.S. Support for Street Work Organisations in Poland. Research Report" and "Recommendations for Standardisation of Streetwork Programmes for Children and Young People".
In total, the project supported 25 streetwork organisations to increase their capacity and improve the quality of their services. These organisations participated in one of three possible forms of support: training, supervision and a cooperation workshop. The report and recommendations on streetwork will form the basis for further work by the Federation of Streetwork Organisations aimed at providing direct and indirect support to NGOs involved in streetwork.