The seminar started with a report on the results of the work of the CPA "World without Borders" in 2016 on the development of a post-institutional support system for graduates of house-boarding institutions for disabled children and young people with psychophysical developmental disorders, prepared by the leading expert of the CPA "World without Borders" O. Dominikevich. During the report, a discussion was organized on the activities of the association in a number of institutions, and the participants expressed their views on specific activities conducted by the organization's staff in their institutions. A large number of positive responses were caused by the actions "Great Art with the Hands of Small People" and "Our children", the festival "Dreams Come True", the republican sports days for residents of house-boarding institutions. The participants of the seminar highly appreciated the activity of the CPA "WWB" in the introduction of the accompanied residing service in house-boarding institutions for disabled children with psychophysical developmental disorders and the post-institutional support system for graduates of house-boarding institutions, the development of a model of social adaptation of residents.
Further, the specialist of the CPA "WWB" A. Tarasevich presented an analysis of the most successful strategies for moving from institutional forms of care to care at the community level, analyzing the experiences of Lithuania, Bulgaria and Canada. Leaders reminded participants of the seminar on Belarus' accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its ratification in 2016, which entails the adoption of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Republic of Belarus. The draft of this document is posted on the website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection for public discussion. The report sparked a lively discussion about the future of the social services system for people with disabilities and about inpatient social services.
The next part of the seminar was training, which included two content parts: motivational training and stress management. The goal of the motivational training is to form a conscious position among the participants and a stable motivation for professional interaction for the implementation of the accompanied residing. Participants performed art and creative tasks, which helped create unity, relieve emotional tension, set up an atmosphere of trust and openness. Exercises were chosen to help participants understand their own problems and resources in their professional activities. The participants also determined the problems in the organization of the accompanied residing, discussed the possibilities for their solution, and were looking for effective ways to resolve them. It was noted that joint collegial solution of the issues on each specific case helps an effective and faster resolution of the problem.
At the end of the first day of the seminar the participants got acquainted with the methods of social adaptation and preparation for independent life of young people with special needs in order to maximize their stay in the familiar social environment, using the example of the "Open Doors" hostel. The Leader of the Project "Prospects for Independent Living for People with Disabilities" of PA “BelAPDIiMI” T. Grishan conducted a tour of the hostel, introduced the residents, answered the questions of the seminar participants.
The next day, the seminar continued with a visit to Minsk Psychoneurological Institution No. 3, where the participants were able to see the department of accompanied residing and get acquainted with the organization of work. The psychologist D. Eskevitch told about the organization of the "art therapy" and numerous open events that were held over the past two years and attracted the public attention to the problem of house-boarding institutions and the conditions of living of people with mental illnesses. Then the seminar participants visited the agro-estate “OS”, where internships for residents and graduates of the departments of accompanied residing for disabled children with psychophysical developmental disorders were organized. At the moment, two alumni and one resident of a house-boarding institution live and work in the estate. The participants of the seminar met with the young people, they saw the conditions of their life and work. Also, the second part of the psychological training devoted to the problems of stress management was conducted. The purpose of the training on stress management is familiarity of participants with techniques and methods of relieving emotional tension, activation of personal resources with the aim of preventing professional burnout. The training also included a substantial block on the prevention of emotional burnout of specialists, which involved working with personal resources. At the end of the training, a reflection was held.
Participants expressed the change of mood, calmness, lightness, interest in work, joy from acquaintance and communication with colleagues, a boost of cheerfulness and optimism. Opinions were expressed on the need for such trainings in order to unite the teams of specialists and prevent emotional burnout. Many participants noted the novelty and relevance of psychological techniques, games and exercises, which they will use in their work with residents. The most striking impression of the training was a joint creative process, awareness of their potential creative abilities and skills. Participants highlighted the importance of such trainings for organizing cooperation and increasing the effectiveness of professional activities.
The third day of the seminar began with a visit to the Social Workshops for people with disabilities of the parish of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow". The participants of the seminar became familiar with the experience of employees of the workshops that accompany the labour activity of adults. The methods and techniques used by workshop staff to train workers with disabilities in work skills and team communication were very interesting for the workshop participants. A great impression was made by the products of carpentry, candle making and bookbinding workshops. An important aspect was information on how to sell these products.
The seminar concluded with a presentation of further activities within the Project "Chance for Everyone" for 2017, implemented by the CPA "WWB".