Third stage of training the team of CSRI

The team of the CSRI for persons released from the places of imprisonment, has passed the third planned within the project phase for professional training. From 30 May to 3 June in a base near Troyan, the team members participated in a series of lectures, concerning the nature of the dynamic interview, the phases and transitions in which it passes trough, as well as the interview’s control by the professional. Along with discussions of the beneficiaries’ verbal and nonverbal behaviour, dialogue and presentation skills, work with resistance, the participants were familiarized with the types of penalties which they have endured. In particular was emphasized on the sentence "probation", its measures and implementation, as lesser-known in Bulgaria.
For ease of implementation and consolidation of knowledge, almost all of the lectures were accompanied by specific exercises and practical sessions in which, the participants worked in small groups.

IGA Representative participated in a conference by the invitation of the EC and the European Organisation for Probation

Late last week by city Antakya - Turkey has returned Andrey Momchilov - Manager International Projects in the Fund - IGA, who took part in a conference on "Programs for offenders in the prison system and probation.” Host of the Forum was the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Turkey, an invitation was sent to Fund - IGA by the European Commission and the European Organisation for Probation.
The representative of the Fund - IGA made a presentation titled "West - East - the transfer of programs for offenders with alcohol or drug dependence." The participation in the prestigious forum came as a result of strong international performance of the organization within Project “STARR - Strengthening the international approach to reducing recidivism.” Within the project, Fund - IGA is a partner of Britain, France, Hungary and the European Organisation for Probation.

Social service providers are trained in working with model ENTER-2

Earlier this week in hotel "Elbrus - Velingrad started training for the implementation of model ENTER-2. They are realized within 4 - module training and will continue until July. The trainings are under the Fund – IGA’s project “ENTER-2. Development of models for social inclusion of former prisoners,” which is funded under the Operational Programme "Human Resources ", funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund. In the seminars are trained specialists from the General Directorate "Execution of Punishments” of the Ministry of Justice, municipalities and NGOs working with the target group. After completing the training, participants will take an exam. On successful completion they will gain a qualification as part of the profession of an economist, majoring in economics and management, and in the profession social work and counseling, part of profession - social work associate; under the requirements of National Agency with a focus - work with model ENTER-2.

A three-year project of Fund - IGA ended with a national conference

(12 May). Yesterday at the conference hall of Grand Hotel Hebar, Pazardjik, was held the final conference of project “Network for the prevention of violence against children. Integrated approach to reducing sexual violence and exploitation of children.” The project length was three years and was funded by the Swiss foundation "OAK". Leading organization is fund for crime prevention - IGA.
The event was attended by around 70 representatives of institutions and organizations from Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse, Pleven, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Peshtera and Rakitovo with respect to the theme of the conference - "Sexual offenses against children."
The participants were welcomed by Daniela Masheva (Deputy Minister of Justice), Darinka Yankova (Deputy Executive Director of ASA), which read a congratulatory letter from Totyu Mladenov (Minister of Labour and Social Policy) and Dafinka Semerdjieva (Deputy Governor of Pazardjik Municipality) The project’s main objective is to reduce the number of children subject to sexual violence and / or service through the implementation of an integrated approach to working with children - victims and perpetrators of sexual violence. During the conference, was presented the first ever study of sex offenders against children, as well as programs and tools to influence this target group.
Two cultural events accompanied the forum - an exhibition and theatrical performance. The exhibition "The Stolen Sun" was opened in the foyer of the Town Hall of Pazardjik. It presents posters of children's drawings, sculpture and other media of children affected by violence. The exhibition has already been shown at City Art Gallery - Plovdiv at the beginning of this year. From 18.30 hours, the Chamber Hall of Drama Theatre "K. Velichkov "- Pazardzhik, was presented the play “Equation” of the Drama Theatre “Sava Ognyanov,” Ruse. It is work of the Ruse’s playwright Orlin Dyakov. The play is part of a national project of the theatre for prevention of the violence among the children in school. Besides the conference participants, the play was visited by students of the Vocational School of Economics and Management in Pazardzhik, who also participated in the project’s realization.

CSRI team and representatives of institutions in a joint training

From 27th to April 29th, hotel "Elbrus,” Velingrad, held the three-day training seminar. The Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration (CSRI) to persons exempt from the places of imprisonment, together with representatives of institutions, were trained under the project "Piloting an innovative social service center for social rehabilitation and integration of persons released from places of imprisonment." The aim of the training was to exchange information between CSRI and partner institutions and to discuss possible improvements of the mechanisms for information sharing, targeting cases and specific issues arising in the provision, development and enrichment of the service.
The seminar was attended by representatives of the Prisons in Pazardzhik and Bobov Dol, the district police stations in Pazardjik and Septemvri, the Directorate of “Social Assistance” and the Department of “Labor Bureau” - Pazardjik, the Prosecutors in Pazardjik and others.
The project of Fund - IGA is funded under the Operational Programme "Human Resources", funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund. The project started early this year and the provision of social services - from the beginning of April .

First team training of CSRI

The team of the “Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Persons Exempt from the Places of Imprisonment” passed its first training. The project providing a total of four courses, two of which are for the team and others two will be held jointly with representatives of institutions that will partner with team CSRI in the provision of social services.
The training was a 5-day, exported and focuses on basic knowledge, techniques and skills needed for successful evaluation, planning and conducting cases in the social service. Three qualified lecturers supported by the facilitator, covered a wide range of topics: Bio-psychosocial model for understanding and evaluating human behavior, Approaches and models in carrying out psychological assessment of personality; Assessment of motivational field and values of the individual; Description and documentation of individual psychological profile; Types offenses and criminal liability; Systematic approach to work with offenders and their families; Work with prisoners and persons served sentence of imprisonment; Social work with individuals served sentence of imprisonment - case management, documentation, etc. The lectures were accompanied by practical exercises and role plays, which placed the team in a particular situation and thus have made a direct connection between theory and practice.
Activities are implemented under the project "Piloting an innovative social service Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Persons Exempt from the Places of Imprisonment,” with the financial support of the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development,” funded by the European Union through the “European Social Fund.”

The presentation of model ENTER-2 has completed

On April 5, at the Hall of Municipal Administration - Blagoevgrad was held the last information day presenting model ENTER-2. The model designed under Fund – IGA’s project “ENTER-2. Development of the model for social inclusion of former prisoners.” Beside the model, within the information day were presented and a national survey on the activities and the status of the social enterprises in Bulgaria, successful models of social enterprises in EU countries, methods and programs for social inclusion of former prisoners and others.
The information days in the country - in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Vratsa, Pazardjik, Pleven and Plovdiv - were visited by representatives of institutions and NGOs that are relevant to the work of persons exempt from the places of detention.
In the project upcoming calendar is envisaged training of selected during the information days professionals for working with model ENTER-2. If they successfully pass the exam at the end of the training, participants will receive a certificate for part of a profession under the National Agency. Project “ENTER - 2. Development of the model for social inclusion of former prisoners” is funded under the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development" 2007-2013, "Social entrepreneurship - promoting and supporting social enterprises. Pilot phase.

А social service for persons exempt from the places of imprisonment launched

From today “Crime Prevention Fund – IGA” began providing the social service “Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Persons Exempt from the Places of Detention.” The activity is implemented under the project "Piloting an Innovative Social Service Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration of Persons Exempt from the Places of Imprisonment,” with the financial support of the Operational Programme “Human Resources,” funded by the European Union through the “European Social Fund.” The project started early this year and will last 12 months. The team which will provide the service is already formed. In March, after an interview, were selected governor, social pedagogue, two psychologists and four social workers. In the team will work and a lawyer. A special office has been repaired and equipped for delivering the service.
By the end of the year, the professionals will assist the reintegration of around 200 persons exempt from the places of imprisonment in Pazardzhik region. This is an innovative non-resident social service of the generally regulated within the social legislation “Centre for Social Rehabilitation and Integration.” One of the project objectives is the creation of opportunities for improving quality of life of persons exempt from the places of imprisonment, through targeted development and piloting of integrated social services for this target group.