Civil Society Completed

Development of a network of psychosocial counseling centers for users at risk

Psychological Assistance Society ·Croatia

€150k

Grant awarded

Civil Society

Programme

1 January 2021

Signed

About this project

The project will establish a Network of CSOs in local communities to increase the availability and quality of PSS for citizens at risk. The goal will be achieved through 3 phases: Res. 1: Formed CSO Network of PSC providers; Res. 2: Implemented development program of CSO support in accordance with the needs of citizens and advocating for the sustainability of PSC in local communities; Res. 3: Extending the reach of the Network and PSC to deprived areas and for particularly vulnerable groups. Main activities: needs assesment in the field of PSC, launching the Network of PSC CSOs in Zagreb in phase 1 (phase 3 will include CSOs from deprived counties with a long-term goal of national coverage), preparation and implementation of advocacy and capacity building of Network members for social impact and sustainability and for specific counseling skills (e.g. multicultural counseling), defining quality standards for the provision of PSC by CSOs and educating CSOs in a deprived county. Society for Psychological Assistance will coordinate and monitor implementation, together with Children First will coordinate the Network and conduct part of the training to strengthen the Network. The Institute for Labor Market Development will conduct needs assessment, educate the members of the Network, and develop a long-term plan for expanding the Network to other counties. Norway partner NewSchool will support development of the programme of the Network and capacity building for transfer of knowledge. City of Zagreb and CZSS Zagreb will contribute to the development of a sustainable model of financing and of quality standards.

Bilateral cooperation results

Study Visit to Oslo In 2023, DPP, along with its partners (DP and IRTR), visited the New School partner in Norway. The purpose of the visit was to gain insight into the operations of the Oslo-based organization, with a particular focus on their approach to intercultural collaboration, diversity, and inclusion, as well as observing the Norwegian approach to social innovation and entrepreneurship. The most significant experience was the visit to SoCentral, a startup incubator focused on social innovation and entrepreneurship. SoCentral's unique approach to developing socially responsible businesses served as an ideal model for learning about advanced business practices in Norway. The partner from Norway, NewSchool, provided support in the development of the Network program and capacity building for knowledge transfer. The main focus of the study visit was to strengthen the participants' capacity for more effective management of teaching processes, knowledge transfer, and competencies, as well as the systemic approach applied by the partner organization in working with educational institutions. Teaching aimed at activating the resources of participants in the education/training is essential for the educational activities that partner organizations carry out in their field with institutions (CZSS, schools, etc.), helping professionals, as well as for providing higher quality education services for self-financing and social entrepreneurship. During the visit to organizations in Oslo, the organizations prepared lectures for participants on their tools in the teaching process, collaboration with institutions in the local community, and discussed potential future collaborations.

Project partners

Newschool AS Donor project partner· Norway
Association Children First Project partner· Croatia
Institute for Labour Market Development Project partner· Croatia
City of Zagreb - City Office for Social Protection and Disabled Persons Project partner· Croatia
Centre for Social Welfare Zagreb Project partner· Croatia

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