libera mente giovani
FAMILY-SIZED COMMUNITY WITH SOCIO-EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION (16-21 years)
The Family-Sized Community for 16 to 21-year-olds is a residential service, active 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with a socio-educational aim of providing users with a safe and protected living space in which to process and give meaning to past experiences, often traumatic, which have to some extent interfered with the young person’s peaceful development and life cycle. The goal is to resume developing a plan for the future, with the support of adult reference figures capable of developing meaningful relationships on both an emotional and educational level.
The project of the family-sized socio-educational community ‘Free Minds Youth’ is aimed at 6 male adolescents, plus 1 for immediate reception, aged between 16 and 21 years old, who are undergoing legal proceedings initiated by the Juvenile Court, for whom the Judicial Authority has ordered placement in a re-educational community facility, and at young people referred by the Social Services of the area. The indirect beneficiaries, but still actively involved, are the families of the adolescents and the individuals who, in various capacities, belong to their original relational contexts
“Pursuing the well-being of the youth and their authentic ‘social rehabilitation’ is the primary goal of the project, achievable only by collaborating with the minor’s original context – primarily the family – and in synergy with the actors of the dense network of formal and informal relationships present in the territory, including various institutions, in a multidisciplinary effort and coordination among the various agencies that cooperate for the healthy development and bio-psychosocial well-being of the youth.”
“The service provides accommodation for users 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in a structure, a beautiful stone farmhouse, spread over two floors, located at Loc. Ponte Buriano No. 6, 15 minutes from the city of Arezzo, well served by public transport. Inside, specific spaces are dedicated to group activities, individual meetings, office work, and meal sharing, but there is also a personal and customizable space for each user. Outside, there is a large terrace and refreshment areas in the greenery; there is also a greenhouse where stable seedling work takes place and a small plot of land dedicated to horticulture. The young guests will be able to use the spaces of the structure according to the regulations, taking care to respect both personal and shared areas.”
“The work group, consolidated by a previous shared work experience and united by a common sense of responsibility and dedication, is characterized by a strong team spirit, connectivity, and collaboration that makes the staff’s action targeted and supervised in weekly meetings for coordinating individual and group work. The figures involved in the community process, in defining and implementing the psycho-educational project with the young person, will be:
- Community Manager (Professional Educator)
- Coordinator of psycho-educational interventions (In-house Psychologist)
- Educator
- Community Animator
- On-call Medical Doctor
- In-house Social Worker
- Supervisors: Systemic-Family Psychotherapist and Professional Educator with extensive experience in the field.”
The family-sized socio-educational community ‘Free Minds Youth’ originates from the desire to address the shortage of accommodation in our area for the specific target group of Juvenile Justice Centers. The inspiration of the staff is secular and non-ideological, oriented towards problem-solving and continuous dialogue between aspirations and results. The members of the internal professional team share the same values of hospitality, freedom, respect, and attention to others, which are the soul of the association, along with a strong focus on social issues, ethics in work management, a democratic approach to decision-making, and an ecological perspective, attentive to environmental care.
The value proposition of ‘Free Minds’ adapts to the individual needs of each user in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Center and social workers: there is an assessment of placement requests, the formulation of an individualized educational plan for each minor admitted, the definition and methods of discharge, and the evaluation of continuing educational support even after the age of eighteen if needed.
The general objective of the project will be to accompany each user along a journey of self-discovery, identifying their own strengths and weaknesses, to gain a greater awareness of their place in the world, the value of their actions, the responsibility underlying each choice, or missed choice, and the effects of those choices on themselves and others. During their time in the community, which is not a suspension of time but an investment in the present, young people will be able to reflect on and make sense of their experiences, even traumatic and negative ones from the past, and break free from delinquent patterns that act as barriers, for a peaceful development of their identity and relationships.”
Through targeted interventions, both individual and group-based, each young guest will be offered a range of experiences to explore and develop their own identity and autonomy in a supportive and protective environment. This includes personalized responses to the needs for recognition, belonging, and differentiation, along with support and care. Here are the details:
Psychological Support
Psychological support, both individual and group, will be provided throughout the community journey. The aim is to provide guests with a personal and group space that is safe and supportive, where they can share their experiences, fears, aspirations, and needs. The goal of the psychological journey is to identify and enhance strengths and transform limitations into growth opportunities.
Path to Civic Autonomy
This program focuses on increasing autonomy and knowledge of local health and social services, as well as the skills needed to handle daily administrative tasks. It also includes workshops on writing, web use, current events, geography, legality, and active citizenship.
Volunteering and Socio-Educational Activities
Guests will have volunteering opportunities in projects managed by the service-providing association or other local organizations. There will be training workshops on identity-related topics, relationships with others and authority figures, as well as psycho-educational interventions to promote physical and psychological well-being and prevent risky behaviors.
Free Time
Leisure and cultural activities will be flexible and tailored to the interests and proposals of the young people, including cinema, theater, sports, and games. Even moments of “boredom” will be valued as educational and creative opportunities.
Family Involvement
Support will be offered to the families of the young people with psycho-educational interventions and constant monitoring during their stay in the community, to promote healthy family bonds and use them as a resource.
Methodology
A systemic-relational approach centered on the individual is adopted, valuing the relationship as a tool for transformation and care, respecting the individuality of the young people and considering the social context.
The Group as a Resource
The support of peers, educational staff, and the multidisciplinary team supports the evolutionary process of each individual, offering opportunities for relationships and confrontation with alterity.
The Role of Volunteers
Volunteers play a key role in connecting the association with the social context, offering support in laboratory activities and bringing new ideas and enthusiasm. They collaborate with other youth associations to share positive experiences.
Alessandro Papalini (Responsabile della Comunità)
cell: 3388517404
e-mail: alessandro@liberamenteaps.it
Antonella Concordia (Psicologa- Coordinatrice di progetto)
cell: 3387203326
e-mail: antonella@liberamenteaps.it
e-mail comunità: minori@liberamenteaps.it