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Description
The project is a response to a need reported by the Municipal and Communal Social Care Centre in Gniewkowo, which was suddenly deprived of the possibility to help its charges, i.e. mothers and children experiencing domestic violence. As observed by the social workers and the management of the centre, the social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in the number of people experiencing violence in the municipality. In 2020, 33 people, including 28 women and 2 children, received assistance due to domestic violence, and in 2021 it was 51 people, including 41 women and 2 children. The number of blue cards in 2021 increased to 70, including 55 for women (in 2020 it was 56 cards). On the other hand, due to budget cuts caused by the pandemic, the institution has been deprived of funds to help victims. The aim of the project is to provide psychological support to mothers (12 people) and children (10 people) – charges of the Municipal and Communal Social Care Centre in Gniewkowo. We will equip the participants with tools necessary to improve their life situation and introduce changes, which will help them to leave the violence environment they are currently living in. We will conduct 120h workshops on social competences for women, including classes on assertiveness, coping with stress, help-seeking skills, communication, raising self-esteem. We will organize 120h of animation-therapeutic workshops for children. The type of activities will depend on the age of participants, e.g. dealing with difficult emotions, taking care of boundaries, signalling violence, skilful use of the word ‘no’, dealing with aggression, establishing relationships. We will provide 120h of individual psychological and therapeutic support for the participants.
Summary of project results
The project included a 5-month series of psychoeducational workshops for women, supplemented with individual counseling and psychotherapy. At the same time, the participants'' children took part in classes with an animator. A total of 132 hours of workshops for women, 120 hours of classes for children and 120 hours of individual counseling and psychotherapy were carried out.
The project included a 5-month series of psychoeducational workshops for women, supplemented with individual counseling and psychotherapy. At the same time, the participants'' children took part in classes with an animator. A total of 132 hours of workshops for women, 120 hours of classes for children and 120 hours of individual counseling and psychotherapy were carried out.
All planned results were achieved. At the end of the project, significant improvement in the participants'' functioning was noted. Women''s well-being improved, their confidence in their own abilities and their sense of influence on reality increased. In turn, children were observed to have greater emotional stability, greater openness in contacts with others, and in some cases an increase in the level of cognitive functioning.
The communication skills of the participants improved, the ability to assertive behavior, coping with difficult emotions and the awareness of mechanisms related to interpersonal relationships improved.
There was also a reduction in the psychological effects of experienced violence among participants. The frequency of neurotic symptoms (fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, self-blame, excessive self-criticism) decreased, while the frequency of behaviors indicating greater openness in relationships increased.