Family Counseling Center with Short Stay Home (FCC/SSH)

Family Counseling Center (Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi)

The Family Counseling Center facilitates a favorable environment for women, men and children to improve their family and home life. The Family Counseling Center accepts individuals and families dealing with issues ranging from spousal problems, greater family disharmony or parent and child tensions. Counselors work to find sustainable solutions that satisfy the mental and emotional needs of all individuals or family members involved in the counseling process.

The Family Counseling Center works in collaboration with the local police, All Women Police Station and Free Legal Aid for mutual and amicable settlement of marital disputes, property issues and proper childcare. The police refer cases that need temporary shelter, protection and rehabilitation to the Short Stay Home.

Short Stay Home (Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi)

The goal of the Short Stay Home is to help women and girls in distress by providing them a healing environment accompanied with the following objectives:

• Provide temporary shelter
• Provide safety and security
• Provide alternative livelihood options
• Facilitate integration of families
• Offer counseling and psychosocial care
• Offer legal assistance and police help

The following activities are offered to all residents of the Short Stay Home:

1. Tailoring: inmates undergo six months of tailoring training at the Usha Training Institute.
   Handwork: inmates are taught to make woolen roses, cell phone covers, plastic mats, bags, paper covers, and paper flowers.
2. Education: literacy classes are provided to all inmates.
   Group Meetings: once per week, the house Warden conducts meetings and delegates duties to the inmates.
   Medical Check-Up: once per week, a medical check up is provided for the inmates
   Dance class and catering Training

   
   

Legal Aid: During family dispute and counseling of marital issues, women often lack knowledge of the legal aspects of marriage, divorce and personal rights. Without this understanding, women are often forced to undergo avoidable traumatic experiences. The Family Counseling Center works to educate women about their rights by offering them free legal services from the Tamil Nadu State Legal Authorities and filing cases of restitution of conjugal rights, divorce, maintenance and judicial separation.

Employment Opportunities: During the counseling process, individuals work to identify and develop potential skills and talents. These individuals are encouraged to professionally pursue these interests and transform these personal traits into business ventures.

Referral Services: The Family Counseling Center works with a network of other NGOs, government organizations and independent associations to unite the available resources. Clients benefit from these relationships in the form of referrals for job opportunities, medical treatments and further counseling services.

Vocational Training: Women seeking the services offered by the Family Counseling Center are encouraged to pursue education and training for income generation. These clients are referred to vocational training in tailoring, catering and other professions to ensure their financial independence and personal growth. Counselors work with other local NGOs to provide clients with short courses and residential vocational training.

A Case Study

Client ‘A’ was referred to the MCCSS Family Counseling Center by another NGO. She ran away from home due to an interfamily dispute. She was admitted in the Short Stay Home and provided frequent counseling, emotional support and strength. These therapy services, in cooperation with psychiatric treatment, helped her return to normal behavior and a happy state of mind. After this personal improvement, Client ‘A’ and her counseling team invited the family for counseling training and service. These joint counseling sessions, in addition to continued individual sessions, enabled Client ‘A’ and her family to reach a favorable home environment. Upon agreement between Client ‘A’ and her counseling team, Client ‘A’ left the Short Stay Home and resumed residence with her family. Members of the MCCSS counseling staff continue to make home visits to ensure continued emotional progress.

Women Help Line – 10922: Central Social Welfare Board,(Ministry of Women and Child Development,New Delhi)

To provide immediate counseling, guidance, emotional support and placement assistance, around the clock (24 hours). A toll free number 10922 is provided by the Social Welfare Board at MCCSS desk. Women in distress are enabled to overcome their immediate problems by calling free from any landline (BSNL) and talk to the counselors who are available 24 hours of the day. The process is monitored by a ‘Help line Sub-committee’ consisting of professionals.

All the above Programes Implemented through TamilNadu State Social Welfare Board, Chennai.