Co-Creating Community-Based Solutions through Social Media in Estonia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this study, we aimed to explore and describe the prosocial behaviour of the community during the COVID-19 crisis in Estonia on Facebook, using mixed-method content analysis.This article focuses on the role of social media in co-creation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of Facebook (FB) as a modern communication technology in times of crisis. Our goal was to learn how Facebook as a social media channel can be a tool and accelerator that allows people to find solutions to social problems in communities experiencing crises. The focus of the research is on finding solutions in co-creation for vulnerable target groups, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and other people who need support. This research expands on the role and potential of using FB as a communication platform to enhance co-creation.We used Kaun and Uldam’s (2018) model as a theoretical framework for this study. The study is characterised by a descriptive and exploratory research design. We studied the prosocial behaviour of the community on Facebook through a three-stage mixed method content analysis of existing data, including posts and comments on FB pages, using both quantitative (descriptive statistics) and qualitative (thematic analysis) data analysis methods. Our findings suggest that Facebook as a social media channel could be successfully utilised as a tool for sharing calls to action, activating citizens to co-create solutions, and disseminating results.Keywords: prosocial behaviour; co-creation; community support; Facebook; COVID-19

Complexities of Participating in Estonian Labour Market: Experiences of Persons with Mental Health Problems, Employers and Service Providers

The article explores how mental health services, social services and support from employers enable young persons with mental health problems to participate in the labour market. The qualitative study based on 32 semi-structured interviews was carried out within the framework of the project “Positive Attitude Development (PAD) – access to labour market for young adults with mental health problems” among persons with mental health problems, service providers and employers in Estonia. The results showed that young people with mental health problems, aged 18-35, are interested in participating in the labour market, but they experience multiple problems in different domains of life due to their disease, an insufficient educational level and working skills, and the lack of a supportive environment. Employers are motivated to employ them, but they need more support and counselling. A various selection of supportive services has been developed and provided by the Unemployment Insurance Fund, but the availability varies in different Estonian regions. The service providers and specialists point out the positive influence of the closest network and support programmes. The main supportive key elements were identified to be the following: (1) increasing tolerance and changing attitudes towards mental health problems in society; (2) more equal and open opportunities to participate in community life; (3) the need for the provision of specific support services in order to increase the self-confidence and working skills of youth and to develop the cooperation between service providers and employers; (4) more flexible solutions are needed for encouraging employment and entrepreneurship among vulnerable people in the community. Using the potential of the Estonian eGovernance system, easy access to entrepreneurial opportunities, flexible part-time positions and taxation solutions are needed to increase entrepreneurial spirit among young people with mental health problems

Lapsesõbraliku õigusemõistmise kontseptsiooni ja selle põhimõtete rakendamine Eesti õigussüsteemis alaeliste õigusrikkujate juhtumite kohtulahendite näitel

Lapsesõbralik õigusemõistmine on uudne, laste õigusliku staatuse muutumisega seotud kontseptsioon, mis hõlmab endas laste õigussüsteemiga kokkupuutumisega seonduvat ennetust, koolitust, sekkumist ning tõhusaid abivahendeid, lähtudes esmajoones lapse parimatest huvidest. Eestis on (õigus)süsteemi lapsesõbralikkuse tagamisega seotud eelkõige lastekaitsesüsteem ning seda reguleeriv alates 01.01.2016 kehtiv uuendatud Lastekaitseseadus. Artiklis kajastatud uuringu eesmärgiks oli lapsesõbraliku õigusemõistmise raamistikku kasutades analüüsida Eesti õigusliku süsteemi ning alaealiste kriminaalasjade menetlemise lapsesõbralikkust. Kvalitatiivses uuringus analüüsiti dokumendianalüüsi raames Eesti õigusliku raamistiku lapsesõbralikkust ning lisaks alaealiste asjade menetlemise lapsesõbralikkust alaealiste õigusrikkujate kohtulahendite (n=11) näitel. Laste poolt sooritatud õigusrikkumiste menetlemisega seotud õigusaktide analüüs näitas, et lapsesõbralikku õigusemõistmist toetav seadusandlus on Eestis küll nõuetekohaselt väljatöötatud ja rakendatud, kuid arenguruumi on spetsialistide valdkondadeülese koolituse, sekkumismeetmete turvalisuse ning lapse huvide tagamise osas. Juhtumite analüüs tõi välja kitsaskohad laiemas tugisüsteemis – õigusrikkujat alaealist ehk abivajavat last toetav tugi- ja sekkumissüsteem õigusemõistmise eel ja järel ei ole piisavalt lapsesõbralik. Kumuleerunud komplekssed probleemid seotult pere, kooli, suhete ja tervisega on jäänud analüüsitud juhtumite puhul õigeaegselt vajaliku sekkumiseta ning on viinud õigusrikkumiste korduva ning üha tõsisemate tegude sooritamiseni. Lapsesõbraliku õigusemõistmise põhimõtete tõhusamaks rakendamiseks on vajalik kuulata ära ja õigusemõistmisel arvestada lapse arvamust ning tegeleda spetsialistide koolitamise ning ennetus- ja sekkumismeetmete arendamise, kättesaadavuse tagamisega.Võtmesõnad: lapsesõbralik õigusemõistmine, alaealine õigusrikkuja, õigussüsteem, kohtulahendi

Sotsiaalse häkätoni juhis

CoSIE project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 77049

Community orientation of services for persons with a psychiatric disability. Comparison between Estonia, Hungary and the Netherlands

This article explores the way mental health services and social services are orientated on assisting people with a psychiatric disability to participate in different areas of community life. A large research project about community participation in three different countries (Estonia, Hungary and the Netherlands) confirms the findings of other studies that – regardless of geographical location – people with a psychiatric disability have difficulty fulfilling social roles in the community. They are often faced with fewer opportunities than other citizens, due to their health problems, stigma, discrimination and poverty [World Health Organisation. (2011). World report on disability. Geneva: WHO]. An important objective of social work is to help people find their way in society. Surprisingly enough, in all three countries, most social workers are mainly focused on solving individual problems, and not on community participation. Shifting the focus starts by having a clear awareness of the notion of community participation. Social workers have to work both on supporting individuals to find their way in the community (individual support), and on supporting social networks in the community to accommodate persons with a disability on the basis of equal and valued citizenship (community support)

Estonian Vunimano I Hackathon collected interviews 05.-07.10.2018

This project CoSIE (Co-creation of Service Innovation in Europe) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 770492.Estonian Vunkimano I Hackathon interviews collected 05-07.10.2018: interviews with hackathon teams, mentors and policy maker

Promising Community-Based Practices to Postpone the Need for Institutional Elderly Care

The proportion of elderly people in the society is constantly growing. The elderly who live alone form one of the most vulnerable groups in the society that is also at considerable risk for poverty and social isolation. According to the last population census in Estonia (2011), 39.3% of the elderly (65+) lived alone. The ageing of the population is accompanied by novel challenges, among them especially the coping of the elderly living alone. In 2015, the research team at the Tallinn University School of Governance, Law and Society conducted a study to map Estonian community-based practices that are available for the elderly (65+), especially for those who live alone at home, and the way these practices support interdependent coping and prevent the need for institutional care. This study, based on qualitative and quantitative data collected in Estonian communities, suggests that cooperation between Estonian local governments and communities should be more effective and involve regular interaction. Promising practices include developing network-based community support models and broadening communication possibilities