1. Group Experience and Evaluation VA Caritas Mother’s and Child’s Care Home 2010 Feb 18th-19th

2. Recruitment: Half of the women, who participated in the group were currently living in the Care Home Half of the women, who participated in the group were currently living in the Care Home Another half of the women, who were invited to participate and came to the group were our ex-inhabitants Another half of the women, who were invited to participate and came to the group were our ex-inhabitants

3. Adaptation of the Course Content Due to the differences of our country social care system we excluded the part about the benefits of returning to work, childcare payments and etc. Due to the differences of our country social care system we excluded the part about the benefits of returning to work, childcare payments and etc. Because more than a half of the participants had never worked and had small babies, we excluded the parts of the work experience evaluation, CV, job interview, etc. - these issues are available to practice when in need. Because more than a half of the participants had never worked and had small babies, we excluded the parts of the work experience evaluation, CV, job interview, etc. - these issues are available to practice when in need.

4. Duration of the Course The course started on the 18 th of November and finished on the 10 th of February (It was a gap at Christmas festival time) The course started on the 18 th of November and finished on the 10 th of February (It was a gap at Christmas festival time) There were 10 groups of the course and 11 th for the evaluation There were 10 groups of the course and 11 th for the evaluation Groups took place once a week for 2 hours and then 1 additional hour for homework (info to read, make exercises themselves or with close people) Groups took place once a week for 2 hours and then 1 additional hour for homework (info to read, make exercises themselves or with close people)

5. Course Content Group work/ Life situation exploration/ Self-esteem Group work/ Life situation exploration/ Self-esteem Self confidence/ Positive life strategies Self confidence/ Positive life strategies Personality exploration/ Strengths and weaknesses Personality exploration/ Strengths and weaknesses Behavior strategies Behavior strategies Critics Critics Verbal and non-verbal communication Verbal and non-verbal communication Perception and interpretation Perception and interpretation Active listening, feedback skills Active listening, feedback skills Personal/ professional strengths Personal/ professional strengths Team work / Life goals Team work / Life goals

6. Our Comments on the Group Groups took a large amount of time on relationships and communication – these issues were very important to the women, still they needed much work on it. Groups took a large amount of time on relationships and communication – these issues were very important to the women, still they needed much work on it. The groups were very emotional, with conflicts and aggression, new information was not received because of their negative personal experience – proposal: women would need more individual work at the same time. The groups were very emotional, with conflicts and aggression, new information was not received because of their negative personal experience – proposal: women would need more individual work at the same time.

7. Our Comments on the Group (2) Active exercises were preferred against theory, discussion or written work, even if the women didn’t feel confident on the issue. They also had more effect on the participants behavior. Active exercises were preferred against theory, discussion or written work, even if the women didn’t feel confident on the issue. They also had more effect on the participants behavior. Mixing the different experience, age, living circumstances of the participants was successful, women enjoyed each other’s knowledge. Mixing the different experience, age, living circumstances of the participants was successful, women enjoyed each other’s knowledge.

8. Our Comments on the Group (3) Different education level and mental abilities seemed to make a difference and problems in the group atmosphere and understanding capabilities. Still it opened a possibility for participants to be friendly, helping and attentive. Different education level and mental abilities seemed to make a difference and problems in the group atmosphere and understanding capabilities. Still it opened a possibility for participants to be friendly, helping and attentive.

9. Course Evaluation Course fulfilled the expectations of the women – mainly to communicate and get new knowledge in interesting issues Course fulfilled the expectations of the women – mainly to communicate and get new knowledge in interesting issues Women preferred active work versus theory of passive learning. Women preferred active work versus theory of passive learning. Women lacked active participation of each other and willingness to listen. Women lacked active participation of each other and willingness to listen.

10. Course Evaluation (2) Participants noticed that they should have delved more deeply into the issues. Participants noticed that they should have delved more deeply into the issues. The information received by the women was so new and so contradictory of what they imagined, that it was hard to accept it. Therefore the evaluation process should be taken after a bigger amount of time. The information received by the women was so new and so contradictory of what they imagined, that it was hard to accept it. Therefore the evaluation process should be taken after a bigger amount of time.

11. Course Evaluation (3) Women acknowledged, that they need more training on communication and behavior management. Women acknowledged, that they need more training on communication and behavior management. All in all everyone liked the course very much, thought it was useful in many different ways and asked for a continuation. All in all everyone liked the course very much, thought it was useful in many different ways and asked for a continuation.

12. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING Milda Lukauskiene Vilnius, Lithuania