Collaboration
Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University
Municipal Social Welfare Center in Cracow
Regional Center for Social Policy in Cracow
Cooperation agreement concluded on March 13, 2023 in Kraków.
Project conclusion: 2025
Research project consortium: Rafał Barański (Deputy Director of ROPS), Agata Cebera (Ph.D. UJ, WPiA, administrative law), Jakub Firlus (Ph.D. UJ, WPiA, administrative law), M. Kocór (prof. UJ, quantitative research methodology), K. Ornacka (prof. UJ, WF, applied sociology and social work), Marzena Samek (Deputy Director of Specialized Assistance), B. Worek (prof. UJ, WF qualitative research methodology), Wioletta Wilimska (Director of ROPS), Witold Kramarz (Director of MOPS)
Expert: Alex Altshuler (PhD, University of Haifa, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, School of Social Work )
Project coordination: Hubert Kaszynski (Prof. UJ, PE, applied sociology and social work)
Social welfare institutions in the face of threats and humanitarian crises
The focus of the open research group - with many years of experience in educational, implementation, and research cooperation in the field of broadly understood social work and social welfare - is on welfare institutions confronted with the necessity of methodical responses to emergency situations and humanitarian crises.
A trauma-informed perspective
The designed participatory research is based on a trauma-informed (trauma attentiveness) approach, which implies a gradual (sometimes involuntary, silent) transformation of the organisation: from the state of knowledge of the importance of trauma for the formation and dynamics of the aid relationship, to equipping staff with new competences, to embedding in the culture of the institution the developed standards for working with clients experienced by - potentially traumatising - humanitarian crises.
Objectives of the study
The main objective of the proposed study is:
to develop guidelines for emergency preparedness policies and to reduce the risks associated with humanitarian disasters.
The specific objectives of the study are related to the development of:
- methodologies for diagnosing the resources of institutions to enable development in line with a trauma-informed perspective,
- tools for evaluating the process of transforming institutions according to a trauma-informed approach,
- guidelines for supervision of social work and other helping professions carried out according to the trauma-informed approach,
- indications for assistance and social work for people experienced by humanitarian crises,
- recommendations for actors training professionals in the welfare sector.
Research cooperation
The participatory nature of the research (including the formulation of detailed objectives, methods, research results, and conclusions) implies the cooperation of the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University, the Municipal Social Welfare Center in Krakow, the Regional Centre for Social Policy in Krakow and key social partners. The research group is situated within the Centre for Behaviour in Crisis Lab at the Jagiellonian University.
Application scope of the research
The research provides an applied dimension, promoting the education, professionalisation, and supervision of social work and other helping professions by observing, reflecting, and moderating the processes taking place in helping institutions in relation to the provision of assistance to people experiencing humanitarian crises. The essence of this activity is to reduce the potential re-traumatisation of the welfare client.