CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
ARSIS is a social non-governmental organization active since 1992 to support children and young people and defend their rights. It operates with centers in Athens, Thessaloniki, Volos, Kozani and Alexandroupoli, while it has also developed activities in many other cities.
The goal behind the structure "The House of ARSIS" is to respond to the immediate need to shelter and protect a child in danger and its temporary support, until the relevant authorities manage to find the best possible -and permanent - solution regarding its care.
The action aims at keeping "The House of ARSIS" open and functioning, as a notion as close as it can be to a "home" and a "family", resulting at reducing and avoiding as much as possible the institutualization of children. Along with the assurance of all rights of the hosted children, each child is supported in a manner that ensures its smooth emotional and social development.
A special aim of "The House of ARSIS" is return the child to its family environment, when this is proven beneficial for the child itself. At the same time, since 2010, a Foster Care system has been running, aiming at avoiding the institutualization of children and ensuring the care of each child within a family framework surrounded by positive parental standards.
The action is targeted towards children and teenagers in danger; victims of neglect, abuse, trafficking and smuggling, children in danger due to unfortunate family-social-economic reasons.
"The House of ARSIS" shelters a total of 23 children, boys aged from 5 to 12 and girls aged from 5 to 18.
"The house of ARSIS; Shelter for the Temporary Support of Children and Teenagers in Danger" has been operating since 2007, funded by the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity and functioning under its auspicies.
"The House of ARSIS" will continue with its operation until no children need to be hosted there.
"The House of ARSIS" has been operating since 2007 at the area of Oreokastro, in Thessaloniki. It is a short-term accommodation shelter for minors, that hosts children and teenagers in danger. The abovementioned target groups are being referred to the shelter after a thorough social research on behalf of the relevant public Social Services and always after the required order of the Youth Prosecutor, both of whom evaluate the need for the removal of the child from its environment, that is considered unsuitable for its care and support.
"The House of ARSIS" shelters boys aged from 5 to 12 and girls aged from 5 to 18, and its capacity is a total of 23 children. The structure is a building comprising of 7 rooms-dormitories, two offices for the working staff, a big shared living room and kitchen and a bathroom. The building is surrounded by open spaces that are used for workshops, sports, games and creative activities for children.
The main axes of the action are:
The abovementioned axes are goals that come to life through the following services the children receive:
It is worth noting that the funding and operation of "The House of ARSIS" takes place under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity. The children are being referred there after a thorough social research on behalf of the relevant public Social Services and always after the required order of the Youth Prosecutor, both of whom evaluate the need for the removal of the child from its environment, that is considered unsuitable for its care and support.
Until now, more than 250 children and teenagers have been hosted at "The House of ARSIS", with an average stay of 2 years. Most of the children returned to their family environment, after a thorough and systematic evaluation, counselling and supervision of the families. Many of them are supported by foster families, two of them have been adopted, a great number has entered adulthood and thus supported until their independence, while a few were referred to other hosting places.
"The House of ARSIS" operates at the area of Oreokastro, Thessaloniki.
The contribution of the Centre of Social Support of Foinikas of the National Center for Social Solidarity is of great value, that has offered the building that hosts the shelter and is placed within the former Paidopoli of St. Dimitrios at the area of Oreokastro, in Thessaloniki, while at the same time ensures the smooth operation of the shelter, in every way considered appropriate. Finally, many forms of collaboration for each child are being created, as within the framework of ensuring its best interest, the creation of a support network is considered crucial, as it will address every person hosted (ex. a network of public, private, international organizations and services).
"The House of ARSIS" is composed by highly expertized staff, namely a social worker, a psychologist, social carers and supported by a large network of volunteers.
"The House of ARSIS" is one of the oldest structres of ARSIS. The great effort paid and the great results the staff has managed to provide, form an example for the rest. The experience of the structure and the staff within it remain sources of learning and unlocking good practices for the rest of the organization.
