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Description
The aim of the project “Implementation of the Model of Family Attendance with Early Intervention Services in Šiauliai District” is to improve prevention and reduce health inequalities in Šiauliai district.
Project objectives:
1. To implement a model of visiting families in Šiauliai district by providing early intervention services.
2. To provide early intervention services for expectant mothers during pregnancy, after childbirth and until the children reach the age of 2 years.
The project will help women to develop and strengthen their ability to solve their own and their child''s social problems independently, restore social ties with society, promote responsible childcare, provide information on children''s development, parent-child relations and their development. Early intervention services in Šiauliai district will be provided on the basis of three areas: Provision of care; Decision making and support (Caring for a child); Social and community resources (My family and friends; My home).
During the implementation of the project, it is planned to employ one family visit specialist (for 1 post), who will supervise 25 families. During the project period, it is planned that the Family Visiting Specialist will make 14 home visits during the woman''s pregnancy; 28 visits from birth to 12 months. and 22 visits from 13 months. up to 24 months During each visit, the family specialist will gather information, assess changes in family behavior, home environment - depending on which area is weakest in the family.
Šiauliai district Gruzdžiai outpatient clinic The project is planned to be implemented together with Šiauliai district municipality administration, which will allow the exchange of information by identifying and involving potential service recipients. Municipal social workers know the best situation about pregnant women living in a social risk environment and at risk factors such as smoking, unsafe social environment, alcohol consumption and so on.
Summary of project results
Child abuse is one of the public health problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), three out of four children between the ages of 2 and 4 are regularly subjected to physical punishment or psychological violence by their parents or guardians. One in five women and one in thirteen men say they were sexually abused in infancy and childhood. Children who experience domestic violence and neglect are also more likely to be violent themselves.
The goal of the project is to improve prevention and reduce health inequalities in the municipality of Šiauliai district.
The project aimed to provide support and improve information for expectant mothers during pregnancy, after birth and up to the age of 2, providing high-quality services to help mothers make informed decisions about childcare, in order to ensure that vulnerable mothers, babies and children up to the age of 2 years.
The project provided support and improved information to expectant mothers during pregnancy, after childbirth and up to the age of 2 years. High-quality early intervention services were provided to help mothers make informed decisions about childcare to ensure the well-being of vulnerable mothers, infants and children up to 2 years of age.
For this purpose, the job position of Family Visitation Specialist was created in Dispensary of Gruzdžiai. Using the "Nurse and Family Partnership" program, a model of providing family visits and early intervention services was developed and implemented in the municipality of Šiauliai district during the project.
Specialists of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences helped the Family Visitation specialist to acquire "soft" competences, allowing to provide primary preventive intervention to at-risk families throughout the project implementation period, and also advised him periodically during supervisions.
Project target groups: first-time pregnant young (under 21) and older (over 40) women living in a social risk environment and their children under 2 years old, other family members, community, society.
During the implementation of the project, more than 25 women who were pregnant and gave birth in the Šiauliai district municipality were regularly visited, giving priority to those living in rural areas. The Family Visiting Specialist provided each family with 70-96 percent of the scheduled 64 visits.
A car was purchased with the funds of the project, as well as tools and equipment needed to provide services.
Those families were provided with preventive assistance, they were constantly monitored and counselled. Women were taught how to take care of their health and hygiene, childcare, and how to live healthier. The state of health of the mother and baby or child, as well as the development of the child, were periodically assessed.