Description
Assessing the aid mechanism for families at risk (FAR) in Lithuania the following problems are evident: lack of interdisciplinary approach to the complex problems faced by FAR; lack of cross-sectoral cooperation in providing support to such families; lack of competence and skills of social services officers related to identifying the FAR and provision of effective aid and protection of rights of children in such families. Programmes and services for FAR usually are initiated by NGOs, however due to intermittent and insufficient funding they lack sustainability. The project aims to develop and implement a complex model of prevention and early intervention for FAR and timely help for children – victims of violence in 7 municipalities. Consequent advocacy campaign shall be organized, including roundtable meetings with decision-makers on local and national level, trainings on SAFE programme for social services professionals, public/NGO consultations. NGOs shall be trained and mobilised for active participation in policy and decision making process related to the rights of the child. Target groups: FAR and their children, professionals, decision makers.
Summary of project results
Monitoring of support available and provided for families at risk reveals the following existing problems: lack of complex interdisciplinary approach towards problems that families at risk are facing (lack of parenthood skills, domestic violence, etc.) as well as towards the service provision process itself; insufficient cooperation between specialists of various fields when providing services to children and their families; insufficient skills of identification of families at risk; NGOs instead of municipal authorities trying to fill the gap of services while the continuity of operation of NGOs is hardly possible due to inconsistent funding opportunities. Project promoter decided to address this situation by developing a model of complex support for children and their families and test it in several municipalities that agreed to cooperate and explore new ways of improving social services. The main goal of the project was to create effective comprehensive system of early prevention and intervention work with families at risk and maltreated children in the municipalities, by developing a model of integrated help for children and families at risk and implementing advocacy on child rights and strengthening the role of NGOs in child rights politics. The main activities of the project included creation, implementation and update of the Integrated help model, round table discussions, trainings for specialists (on implementation of Integrated help model), multi-disciplinary meetings and consultations for specialists, national seminar, final international conference, trainings for the NGO experts, evaluation of the project and Integrated help model. Impact and results of the project: a) implemented model of Integrated help for children and families in seven municipalities; b) improved basic psychological and social services for children and families at risk (secure attachment formation trainings and positive parenting trainings for risk families, services for the families in crisis and after the abuse); c) strengthened NGOs’ competence and involvement in child rights politics and decision making in municipalities and in the country. Assessment of project results and impact shows, that the project was effective – the competence of specialists and multi-disciplinary cooperation has been improved. Some sustainability effect is also evident as the model of Integrated help draw attention of other municipalities that are willing to try it.
Summary of bilateral results