Leonardo da Vinci

Programme: LLP/Leonardo da Vinci - Transfer of Innovation, Multilateral Projects

Project title: LLP-LDV-TOI-09-AT-0017 - Kids in the context of mental Disorders: Skill training to empower Teachers, Health Professionals and Social Workers

Length of the project: 1.10.2009 - 30. 9. 2011

Participating faculties: Faculty of Education

Participating organisations:

S.I.N.N. - Social Innovative Network, Graz, Austria

Project Office for Innovative Social Policy, Austria

FH St Polten, Austria

Marie Curie Association, Bulgaria

The National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland

Netz und Boden – Initiative for children of mentally ill parents, Berlin, Germany

Eötvös Loránd University Faculty of Elementary and Nursery School Teachers’ Training, Budapest, Hungary

University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia
Faculty De Education. Universyty Complutense Of Madrid, Spain

Kütahya Local Education Directorate, Turkey

Annotation:

Background and Purpose:

The prevalence of mental illness is constantly increasing, depression will become the 2nd largest cause of the global health burden by 2020 (WHO) with major impacts on children and families (3-11% "forgotten" children). Improving the mental health and well-being of children and young people is one of the 5 priorities set out in the EU Pact for Mental Health at the EU high level in 6/2008.

In almost no EU country "forgotten children" are included in formal training programs of professionals in diverse bio-psycho-social sectors. However a mental vulnerability of a parent always can be seen as a source of chronic distress and increased own vulnerability for young children.

In terms of prevention KIDS`STRENGTHS transfers available EU training knowledge (Lets talk about children, Fostering Resilience) and tools (e.g. online resource pools like www.precious.at) into different bio-psycho-social sectors and countries (AT; DE; ES; FI, HU, PT; SK; TR and EN) and also offers peer-oriented online-skill training and a platform for children themselves to express their worries and find support.

Outcomes:

1) Specific training material focused on the needs of children in the context of mental vulnerability
- How to address the issue of own vulnerability and needs of the children talking to parents
- The impact of a mental illness on children
- The importance of adequate information for children
- Fostering resilience in "forgotten" children

2) tailor made training modules for professionals in the field of
- Social work
- Early Childhood Intervention
- Pre-school
- School
- Health
- Psychosocial Services working with vulnerable families

3) Easy accessibility of training materials by
- diverse language variants (DE; FI, PT, ES, TR, SK, EN, HU)
- an online portal and online resource pool

4) Clinical online assessment of relevant resilience processes (resilience map)

Updated by: Unipo, 19.02.2010