Finland - Jyvaskyla Region - Final Self-Evaluation Report.pdf

Box 6.2 The WIRE –projects: Supporting social inclusionDuring the last ten years, the WIRE projects have focused on the development of new kinds of servicesfor the long-term unemployed in Central Finland. The model – developed in cooperation with theJyväskylä Polytechnic (coordinator), Jyväskylä Development Organization Jykes, and the JyväskyläEmployment Office – integrates, step by step, various disadvantaged groups into working life throughdiverse measures of physical and social rehabilitation that aim at sustaining long-term practices. Themodel takes into account the different resources of the municipalities and actors participating in theproject. Thus, the WIRE projects are examples of an effective mechanism to support social inclusion.The WIRE has contributed to the employment of approximately 800 long-term unemployed people inCentral Finland during 2000-2004. It is an important societal opening and has been recognized as a goodpractice by the the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES). Theproject activities involve a large social network, comprising of representatives from the third sector,municipalities and firms. The WIRE is an essential part of the Jyväskylä Polytechnic’s centre ofexpertise, which concentrates on health and welfare service. WIRE projects are funded by EuropeanSocial Fund.At the University of Jyväskylä, the activities of the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the education ofteachers (Faculty of Education), social work and psychology (Faculty of Social Science) are important fieldsfrom the point of view of social development in the Jyväskylä region, and they involve an increasing numberof possibilities in the future. The Research and Training Clinic in Psychotherapy within the university’sDepartment of Psychology provides services to the clients (including individuals, couples and families),contributes to scientific research and organizes continuing education to professionals in social and healthcare. Several departments at the university have cooperative projects with the Peurunka RehabilitationCentre located in Laukaa (25 km north of the city of Jyväskylä) (Box 6.3).Box 6.3 Rehabilitation centre based on long term partnership with the UniversityThe idea of Peurunka Medical Rehabilitation Centre was created by war veterans almost thirty years ago.The University of Jyväskylä, its staff, students and alumni from various faculties, helped to develop theoriginal philosophy and programme. It has, thus, been a natural outcome that the university has for allthis time been represented in the governing bodies of the centre. Physical education professionals,including those working at the University of Jyväskylä, have had a major impact on the centre’soperations and activities. As a multifunctional centre, Peurunka has always needed multi-skilledprofessionals and specialists. These have been relatively easy to recruit, due to the close location of theUniversity and colleges. The University has also been a major catalyst in providing opportunities for theself-improvement of the staff through independently studying and developing new skills.The majority of Peurunka’s clients have been disabled and other war veterans, as well as women whohad worked in conditions comparable to front-line activity. This client group is now rapidly diminishing,and the challenge of renewing the operations is being met more and more actively. In the future, theclientele will come from the working population. Services are now being created and developed tomaintain the capacity to work and to promote the well-being and health of the workforce of clientcompanies, in correspondence with their expectations and needs.Collaboration with the university has become closer, creating research projects as well as opportunitiesfor education and training. The knowledge, know-how and research available at the university have beendirected to benefit practice. As a partner, Peurunka has opened up possibilities for the university toextend its research into the fields of rehabilitation and wellness services. As a by-product, a model formutual co-operation has been created, which will benefit both parties as well as contribute to the qualityof rehabilitation services in Finland. Research information and its application are needed to develop theeffectiveness of the services. The contract between the University of Jyväskylä and Peurunka, establishedin 2004, aims to further enrich the research cooperation in the field of wellbeing and strengthen thestanding of expertise in the region.86