POLAND

	Rehabilitation Center for the Marginalized in Bielsko Biala
Project Field	Aftercare
Context	People with multiple addiction problems often depend on assisted living. Responding to a need, Blue Cross Poland opened a rehabilitation center for former prisoners with 20 beds in 2005. Today, the center is open to a wider group of beneficiaries, including socially excluded, homeless and unemployed men with multiple dependency problems.
Project	This innovative project aims at sustaining the rehabilitation center as well as expanding the number of beneficiaries. The center provides shelter and occupational therapy to marginalized persons who are accompanied by professional staff on their way back into society. All clients benefit from regular individual counseling and are participating in personal development groups. An important part of the therapeutic offer consists of ergotherapy. The beneficiaries form a “renovation brigade” that performs construction and renovation work within and outside the rehabilitation center. Among other things, the renovation brigade will be in charge of undertaking the construction work needed to physically adapt the rehabilitation center to a bigger number of beneficiaries. The clients thus see their shelter transformed through their own renovation work, which contributes greatly to their self-esteem.
Project Goal	The project aims at reintegrating marginalized people, offering them fully assisted living for a period of up to 1 year. Adapted aftercare services in the form of occupational therapy and access to professional help are a central factor for successful reintegration.
Duration	01.01.2009-31.12.2009
Budget	EURO 111'400

EASTERN EUROPE

POLAND Blekitny Krzyz w Polsce Sp. z o.o. ul. Dzwonkowa 138 43-384 Jaworze Phone: + 00 48 33 817 28 38 www.bk-europe.pl