1. Raising awareness and overcoming prejudice against social services

2. About Slezská diakonie
Slezská diakonie was founded in 1990 as a Christian based NGO.
8100 service users
People with disabilities
Elderly people
Homeless people
Families and youth
Other people in need
1000 Staff members (300 part time)
108 Social services

3. Where do we work?

4. Introducing of the topic
Discuss ways to make social services more visible and understandable for the public, service users, potential staff members, students and public authorities.
Present initiatives to raise awareness, the challenges associated to their implementation and their impact.
Discuss how diaconal actors can work towards common initiatives aimed at emphasising the key importance of social services in our societies.

5. Challenges in the Czech Republic (only)?
Social services do not belong
to the most attractive sectors– Why?
Status of the profession in the society
Lack of young people who would like to study social work or stay in the sector
Lower level of unemployment – lack of people who would like to work in social services
New ways of attracting people – no more waiting, but acting
Lower salaries comparing to other professions

6. Challenges II What could be helpful ?
Limited financial sources and dependency on public funding which is purpose based
High level of fluctuation – investing in people who leave for better jobs
Identity of the organization
High claims for social workers skills
What could be helpful ?

7. Searching for new options...
Public awareness
Building identity of the organization

8. Public awareness 1. Personel work
Cooperation with secondary schools and universities
Process of recruitment of new employees
WANTED - >The system of supporting students in gaining practical experience in social services and within the NGO providing various social services
Support and education of leaders
Searching for Christian employees

9. Public awareness 2. Information against prejudice:
A day with Social worker
Students can visit social worker on his/her working environment
Discussion about the social work
2. Mozaika (Mosaic)
Regular audiovisual broadcasting from Slezská diakonie.
Social media – FB, websites, youtube
The movies are distributed in public places like: city or regional office, hospitals, waiting rooms at doctors, schools, municipal websites etc.

11. Building identity Organization design Product of the organization
Organization identity
Culture of the organization
Attitude of the organization
Communication of the organization
Image of the organization
Building identity

12. Communication towards public
Sharing stories of the service users
Sharing the services as a part of the community life
Presenting our mission and values in open way
Diaconal and Educational Centre as a place for meeting with the community, informing people and sharing our mission

13. Building identity Quality Staff as a Treasure How to support our staff ?
Understanding of the mission and values
Welcoming of the new staff
– 1st day in work
- knowing the history (roots)
Staff training – Training Centre of Slezska diakonie
Spiritual care – conferences, individual care, collaboration with church

14. Celebration with staff members their working anniversaries - 10, 20 and 25 years in the organization

15. The “school” of a healthy back
The “school” of fashion style
The “school” of a healthy back

16. Public appreciation event for local and international volunteers

17. Meeting with retired employees Meeting with mothers on maternity leave

18. Discussion groups What are the prejudices towards the social services?
Identify one challenge in raising awareness about the social services.
Could you please share concrete successful project/idea for raising awareness?
Is there a struggle for a christian identity in your context? In which way?

19. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1. John 3, 18

20. Thank you for your attention!
Mgr. Karla Glosová