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Meeting at Half-Way

Country

Czech Republic

Description

The project is based on the idea to connect the training of people with mental health problems with services for the whole society in the form of a café. The project aims to provide all clients support for returning to the labour market and to offer services in compliance with the individual needs. It is suitable especially for clients in the first stage of psychotic illness.

Aims

The aim of the project is to provide all clients support for coming back to the labour market and to offer services in compliance with the individual needs.

Areas

Employment, Health, Social services

Effectiveness

Quantitative indicators of success: capacity of programs organized by Green Doors is 85 clients; in 2005 there were 138 clients. 85% of clients are 23-35 years old (year 2005). Approximately 60% of clients continue after the work rehabilitation and work in the open job market. Another indicator is the attendance of cafés and the amount of cultural activities organized there.

Qualitative indicators: work in a café as a natural form of work, without creation of any special protected conditions, support and integration of clients into the community. Increasing of working and social abilities of clients through training and following programs. Promoting tolerance and co-existence in the community, decreasing of stigma connected with mental illness by help of an accepting atmosphere. Work with employers, improving of the position of people with mental illness.

Sustainability

The condition for work in Green Doors is a university degree or expert education in a relevant field, ergo therapy, social work, psychology, special pedagogy, as well as practical experience in this field. Another condition is regular supervision. Other important aspect for the realization of project:

  • cooperation with offices and local authorities;
  • good choice of place for café, nice atmosphere, design;
  • exigent investment at the beginning of project - equipment, spaces;
  • great demands from management and coordination of the whole project, bringing in line care of clients, operation, quality of care for clients, culture events;
  • demands from workers versatility, work at the bar, therapeutical work with clients, attitude to café culture, etc.

Innovation

Main innovative aspect is in the connection of offering of services for the public and services for clients; emphasis is put on openness and integrative style of programs. There are three cafés run by Green Doors, each one has its specificity according to the needs of the community in which they are operating and in accordance with the approach to clients. Green Door cooperates also with other organizations offering some activities (treatment, education, psychotherapy, protected housing, free-time activities, etc.). Current evaluation of rehabilitation process is done after every shift. There is a possibility for self-financing.

Added Value

Inspiration for other similar project that started in the Czech Republic and abroad. The project was replicated for clients with mental illness as well as for another target groups. Green Doors is well recognized by the professional and academic public. There are students coming for scholarships. Green Doors was one of the first organizations, which focused at a specific target group - young people with little experience.

Transferability

Transferring the practice to other countries is possible, but the replication of the method and of the system of the cafés is not so easy. Green Doors offers an education module about the system of cafés as well as possibilities to obtain scholarships and short-term involvement.

The system of the cafés has its specificities also in terms of how people in the countries spend their free time, what is the approach to work of people with mental illness, etc. This kind of work may vary from country to country, but there is always possibility to adapt it to local conditions.

Mainstreaming Potential

Effort to connect as much as possible social services with life in community, including organization of cultural activities for the public and offering of work training in non-protected conditions; to inform public about issue of mental illness; to reduce stigma and the taboo of madness.

Contribution not only for people with handicap; it is based on the principles of community care as an alternative to institutional care. The natural surrounding of the café offers a possibility to meet with people with mental health problems and to show the local community that these people do not have to live outside of society, in sanatoriums or in institutions.

Costs of the Project

Finances are arranged from income of the café (35%) and from foundations (65%).

8.550.000 crowns (ca. 300.000 Euros) per year - personal costs: 6.400.000 (230.000 Euros) including salaries of clients; services: 1.570.000 (55.000 Euros); material costs: 360.000 (13.000 Euros); cultural projects and publicity: 220.000 (8.000 Euros).

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Project

The project aims to provide all clients support for returning to the labour market and to offer services in compliance with the individual needs. It is suitable especially for clients in the first stage of psychotic illness.

Work in a café as a natural form of work, without creation of any special protected conditions, support and integration of clients into the community. Increasing of working and social abilities of clients through training and following programs. Promoting tolerance and co-existence in the community and decreasing of stigma connected with mental illness by help of an accepting atmosphere.

People involved in the Project (number of people and profession)

Arrangement of the project: team of experts and organizing workers, executive director, head of rehabilitation, methodical worker, head of project, reception and working therapists, PR, production worker.

Condition for work in Green Doors is a university degree or expert education in ergo therapy, social work, psychology or special pedagogy, as well as practical experience in this field. Another condition is regular supervision.

Contact Person for the Project

Mgr. Lucie Broukalová
greendoors@greendoors.cz
http://www.greendoors.cz/.