May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 1

My work in social services of Saint-Petersburg

Outlook of the talk: Families with adopted children Social rehabilitation of the adolescents Support of HIV-positive women with young children Appendix: New Year in Saint-Petersburg (a a short slide show if you give me 3-5 minutes more)

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 2

Work with adopted children (general)

A holiday for families with adopted kids

Recently at Saint-Petersburg it has been organized many institutions to help families. In each district of the city there organized different clubs for adolescents and Centers to aid families and children. Many psychologists, instructors, social experts, defectologists work there. These Centers help people to find possibilities to continue normal family life with children. Practically all the mentioned below is related to our organization. We were one of the first organizations dedicated to these problems In St-Peterburg. The year 2008 was International Year of Family, there were a lot of publications about abandoned children who live in the orphan-asylums and children's houses, who badly and urgently needs family. Fortunately now many people want to adopt a kid, preferably a baby.

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 3

Work with adopted children (preparation)

A holiday for families with adopted kids

• To keep as much as possible the blood parent family, to find the solutions of existing problems, revive the family life. Unfortunately this is possible not in every case :( • School for future adopted parents

– Inform about eventual problems in future• Deprivation and its consequences,• Features of the behavior• Features of neural system• Etc

– Describe • Optimal methods of personal contacts• Frequent problems

Special importance for relatives who take the children in their family: often they either do not have any experience in upbringing (no children before) or even have negative experience (grand parents whose children have an annulment)

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 4

Work with adopted children (post-adoption)

A holiday for families with adopted kids

After adoption:• Patronage: regular home visits in order to adapt to each other, and improve their living together• Organization of the association of the families with adopted children,• Individual counseling,• Group training

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 5

Work with adopted children

Mama's Portrait

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 6

Individual consultations

Individual counseling to family with adopted children

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 7

Social rehabilitation of the adolescentsAt-risk adolescents• They are homeless or live with parents with dependences (drink hard)• Have drug addiction (frequently)• HIV-positive

• Training courses• Job placement• Medical treatment• Attraction to activities that draw away drugs, street etc• Halfway houses (duration of stay is about 1 year)

– HIV-positive adolescents– HIV-positive young mothers with small children– Adolescents in trouble

• Help in housing problems

Psychological training – To improve social experience, – To relive emotional ans social problems, – To enjoy life instead of drugs, alcohol etc

Computer classes

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 8

Social rehabilitation of the adolescents• Vocational consulting and job placement for at-risk youth• Organization of the professional training in selected disciplines, educational support• Social and psychological support• Material support (transport costs, tools required for work, textbooks)• Assistance in employment

Computer classes

Training in informatics for the at-risk adolescents

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 9

Social rehabilitation of the adolescents

General education lessons for adolescents at risk

Achievements:• Over 200 youth received counseling• 59 youth completed professional training (hairdressing, cooking, painting, floristic arts etc•12 youth were successfully employed

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 10

HIV-positive mothersGoal: to improve the quality of life of HIV-affected families with young childrenMental health care:• Psychological assessment• Individual counseling on

– HIV– Accepting of the diagnosis– Family relations in conflict situations– Child development– Dependence and codependence

• Family counselling

Achievements:• 90 women received an assistance• Project clients created initiative group• A guidebook on Retaining Family Support for HIV-affected Children has been published

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 11

CONCLUSIONS - the results of my visit :

Comparison of the social services of Russia and Austria

Сравнить достоинства и недостатки социальных служб двух стран по опыту поездки.

...

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 12

Thank you!

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 13

Some images of New Year at Saint Petersburg – a slide show.

Most of the photos were taken within the period of from 1/1/2009 till 3/01/2009

At the embankments of Neva

SPB is my native town, maybe some of you visited it or have seen its photos. Here I would like to give a new, unusual images of the city

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 14

Trinity bridge

Laser show at Palace square

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 15

St. Isaak place

View of Hermitage through the Headquarters Arc.

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 16

Yet another photo of the St. Isaac cathedral

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 17

Fireworks at Neva - 1

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 18

Fireworks at Neva - 2

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 19

Fireworks at Neva - 3

Balloon-decorated tram

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 20

Hermitage

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 21

Palace square

At daytime

… During the laser show

May 9 2009 V. Nikulina, Activity report 22

St Nicolas

St. Peter and Paul