On March 15 a contract was signed with the Public Enterprise Central Project Management Agency for the period 2014-2021. “Implementation of an Adapted and Expanded Model of Youth-Friendly Health Care Services (JPSPP)” call for the European Economic Area (EEA) financial mechanism program “Health” project no. LT03-1-SAM-K01-011 “Healthier and safer youth life” (hereinafter – the Project) implementation.
The executor of the project is the Public Health Office of the Biržai District Municipality.
The partners of the project are the public health office of Anykščiai district municipality and the public health office of Kėdainiai district municipality.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the primary prevention of diseases, improve physical and mental health and reduce health inequalities among 14-29 year olds. age youth in the municipalities of Biržai, Kėdainiai and Anykščiai districts by providing youth-friendly health care services (hereinafter – JPSPP).
The target groups of the project are young people of the mentioned age, specialists working with young people or parents (social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, public health specialists, special education teachers), parents, municipal health, social affairs, law enforcement and education sector institutions.
JPSPP is confidential and favorable health care services provided on the principles of non-discrimination, confidentiality and privacy, adapted for 14-29 year olds. age youth.
What is the importance of this Project?
The JPSPP model will be implemented and developed, which will contribute to improving youth health and quality of life, reducing mortality and health inequalities, and increasing social and economic well-being;
The JPSPP model will help solve youth health problems more quickly and efficiently, as well as assess what services are lacking in the municipality, whether the provided services are easily accessible to young people;
The JPSPP model will help develop young people’s healthy lifestyle attitudes, reduce the impact of environmental and social factors on health, which will save economic resources and create a harmonious social environment;
A Coordinating Center (hereinafter – KC) will be established, which will be responsible for the implementation of the JPSPP model. The activities of KC in our district will be coordinated by the public health office of Anykščiai district municipality. JPSPP coordinator and psychologist will work in KC;
A cooperation network will be created – with youth organizations, education, social affairs, and law enforcement institutions, which will be developed over time. Inter-institutional cooperation will ensure the provision of complex and inclusive health care services for young people;
There will be various trainings for the youth and other interested parties on health topics, camps for the youth are planned;
New tools and equipment will be purchased, as well as modern training programs will be implemented, which will encourage young people to choose a healthier lifestyle;
A “green corridor” will be implemented – opportunities will be created for a young person to receive effective and confidential personal health care services in the shortest possible time;
The competences of specialists – social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, public health specialists, special education teachers and JPSPP coordinators will be improved and strengthened;
The project will provide services to at least 1,300 target group individuals;
JPSPP will be provided even after the end of the Project;
A system will be created to effectively solve problems of concern to young people;
The project will help to implement the overall goal of the program and achieve a high level of youth health prevention in the Project municipalities and reduce health inequalities in Lithuania.
During the implementation of the Project, 8 JPSPP delivery algorithms will be implemented, which will enable the mechanisms for providing services to young people:
Suicides and self-harm;
Health disorders related to overweight and obesity;
Sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy;
Use of psychoactive substances;
Alcohol consumption;
Depression;
Sexual violence;
Eating disorders.
The created, adapted and developed algorithms for solving youth health problems can also be used as instruments that help in the formation of the youth health strategy and at the same time will help to reduce the health differences between the districts and regions of Lithuania.
What is the importance of the JPSPP coordinator?
Will organize “low-threshold”, case management and health care services based on human rights principles in KC;
They will be trained in contact techniques, motivational interviewing, case management and interagency cooperation, so they will be able to draw up service provision plans and, in the course of individual case management, assess the health needs of a young person, send them to a personal health care institution to receive the necessary services, and if necessary – to other institutions, if necessary, mediate between the young person and the relevant institution;
Will maintain constant contact with the young person and his relatives while he is a client of the JPSPP model;