Empowerment of Families with Children (SE141)
Funded by South-East Finland - Russia ENPI 2007-2013

Objective of the project

The overall objective of the project was to improve the welfare of families in the Finnish−Russian border area, to ensure high quality and easy-to-access services in multicultural Finnish and Russian society and to increase the understanding of each other’s social service system and family culture.

Main activities

- international seminar - researchers seminar - closing seminar - study trips and trainings - professional exchange - surveys and research - publications - website - ambulating family social work support person - producing content for internet-based services

Achievements

During its three-year implementation, project's objectives were addressed by enhancing the competence of social and health care professionals via several joint meetings, trainings, study trips and international and regional seminars with over 500 participants. Following topics were addressed; current trends, terminology, practices, methods, legislative acts, challenges and human resource management in the field of social services in Russia and Finland for families and children. Information for virtual family services was compiled for the EKSOTE Hyvis portal at www.hyvis.fi. The development of family consulting clinics was carried out in Imatra, Lappeenranta, Kotka and Hamina in Finland and St Petersburg, Vyborg, Pikalevo and Svetogorsk in Russia. One new family counselling department called “Rainbow” was established in the Admiralteisky district. A cultural interpreter (CI) pilot method was developed for the family social support of immigrants and professionals working with them. Almost 50 client contacts were created during the course of the project. The project produced several publications on the field of the social sector.