Psychosocial assistance
Social consultancy is one of the cornerstones of our organisation. It is provided by our staff in the areas of social security, health care, social benefits and support, education and employment. Social consultancy is provided without exception to all foreigners and their family members. During the provision of social consultancy in our organisation we make sure to respect the person as an individual without regard to his/her origin.
Services are provided to our clients in the Prague office as well as at Ministry of the Interior Refugee Centres. A part of the assistance in Prague is giving information and providing support while dealing with the Foreign Police, with the goal of preventing misunderstanding and potential conflict with the authorities that might be caused by a lack of knowledge of the Czech environment. In the Centres themselves work is focused more on psychosocial assistance and on helping to provide group and free-time activities. The problematic issue here is the excessive amount of free time, the long waiting period for the decision of the authorities on granting asylum and the placement of such facilities in isolated environments. Activities that are most welcomed are work therapy activities and men's and women's discussion groups.
Because many of our clients come from areas affected by war, they often cannot adapt to the change in their surrounding and the fact that it was necessary to leave their homes and those close to them. Often they have also experienced definite trauma during their journeys, which is then reflected in their behaviour, without their at first realizing it. These clients are offered psychological counselling. Psychological counselling is currently provided in the Prague office. If during such session serious psychological or psychosomatic problems are encountered, the psychologist refers the client for further professional medical help.
