I. Interdepartmental System of Preventing Adolescent Suicides

BASIC CITY DATA

• Population size: 1,131,429.00

• Population growth rate(%): 40.50

• Surface area (sq.km): 707.90

• Population density (people/sq.km): 1,598.20

• GDP per capita (USD): 6,405.20

• GINI index: 0.25

ABSTRACT

In 2011 – 2015 a lot of suicide attempts were made and complete suicides were commited by children, they also were observed to have autoaggressive and suicide behavior. The analysis of adolescent suicides carried out shows that mostly children aged 13-16 commit suicide. 

A project of interdepartmental interaction in terms of adolescent suicide behavior prevention was developed in 2015. 

The project is aimed at developing and launching the operating procedures and activities of social services which work on preventing adolescent suicide. 

The main project participants include:

• Guardianship and custody division of Ufa City Municipal District Administration;

• 4 mental health – care and social centers;

• Commission on minors and the protection of minors’ rights;

• Educational institutions (schools);

• Republican clinical psychotherapeutic center;

• Republican clinical psychiatry hospital №1. 

For 2.5 years of implementing the project the city has done a huge work.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In terms of childhood decade events stated by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, in 2017, peculiar attention is paid to the development of the adolescent suicide prevention events system. 

ORIGINS

The problem of adolescent suicides is very serious both in the republic and the country. According to the analytical data of 2015, Bashkortostan Republic ranks second in terms of the amount of adolescent suicides committed compared to the other regions of Volga Federal District of Russia. The analysis of adolescent suicides carried out shows that mostly children aged 13-16 commit suicide.

• The main reasons for adolescent suicides are:

• depression because of alcohol, fear of school exams, family problems;

• communication in destructive groups in social networks;

• one-sided love;

• emotional stress;

• family conflicts;

• deathof a relative.  
  

The project is aimed at developing and launching the operating procedures and activities of social services which work on preventing adolescent suicide. 

The main project participants include:

• Guardianship and custody division of Ufa City Municipal District Administration;

• 4 mental health – care and social centers;

• Commission on minors and the protection of minors’ rights;

• Educational institutions (schools);

• Republican clinical psychotherapeutic center;

• Republican clinical psychiatry hospital №1. 
  

The main efforts were aimed at training exports in order to enhance the efficiency of preventative measures. In 2015 - 2017 in frames of experts training the following events were carried out: 4 conferences, 72 seminars, 15 webinars, 4 trainings, 18 lectures, 26 meetings, and 4 round tables on the issue of implementing the interaction model of preventing suicides. 

Today the model is being implemented by 48 psychologists, 5 psychotherapists, 6 child psychiatrists, 1 suicidologist, 40 social pedagogues and 28 experts of guardianship and custody.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

The initiative is more more evolutionary. Its main point is unite all efforts in order to solve the problem. 

The initiative is being applied in the sphere of children`s rights and legal interests. 

The main difficulty is that the services and subdivisions working on children`s adolescent suicide prevention belong to different institutions and departments. 

DESIRED CHANGE OR OUTCOME

For 2 years of the project implementation the amount of adolescent suicides in Ufa decreased by about 25 %, the adolescent suicide attempts – by 32 %, the children who are in the risk group of suicide tendencies and self-injurious behavior - 26.7 %.         

Ufa is also planning to launch an events program of making the internet content safe for children. This includes the development of positive games, groups in social networks, service portals for children etc.    

Guardianship and Custody Division of Ufa city Administration developed 4 operating procedures as following:

• Operating procedures in case of adolescent suicide committed;

• Operating procedures in case of adolescent suicide unfinished;

• Operating procedures when adolescent suicidal behavior is observed;

• Plan of an individual adolescent suicide prevention approach to a child and his (her) family.

The initiative is aimed at the psychological and social stabilizing of the society. Helthy society is always prior so the positive results of the initiative improve the city reputation. 

LEARNING ASPECTS

Other cities can learn how to make their particular operating procedures in order to solve a social problem. They can also learn the following:

1. Development of operating procedures for interdepartmental interaction adapted to the conditions of other cities. 

2. Launch of events program for forming safe content on the internet in order to prevent suicidal tendencies. 

RELEVANCE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages

• Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all
  

II. Information and Control Center

BASIC CITY DATA

• Population size: 1,131,429.00

• Population growth rate(%): 40.50

• Surface area (sq.km): 707.90

• Population density (people/sq.km): 1,598.20

• GDP per capita (USD): 6,405.20

• GINI index: 0.25

ABSTRACT

Information and control center of Ufa city can be surely called the heart of the metropolis as all the problems of Ufa citizens such as housing applications, appeal to emergency services, rescuers or crisis psychologists go through the center. Here qualified experts work who won`t miss any appeal of Ufa citizens.

The Information and control center of Ufa city was founded in 1999. This acts as the body of everyday control over emergency control and coordinates the activities of the emergency services of the city when there facing a threat of a state of emergency as well as when eliminating its consequences.       

The center works24/7.Each shift includes 11 staff members with a crisis psychologist, program expert and driver. The duty shift registers about 3500 appeals every day. 

The center is equipped with all the necessary equipment. There is an opportunity in the Information and control center to receive video and audio information from the emergency situation liquidation area and carry out videoconferences with all the officials of the executives of the center and Administration of Ufa.

It is very important for such center not to stop working at any time. That`s why particular attention is paid to this issue. Electricity is provided to the center by a modern diesel-operated generator which is used as an autonomous source of electricity. 

The efficient and qualitative work of the staff members as well as the permanent modernization of material and technic base the Information and control center of Ufa city was three times admitted the best public safety answering point in Volga Federal District of the Russian Federation in 2013, 2014 and 2016. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In terms of childhood decade events stated by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, in 2017, peculiar attention is paid to the development of the adolescent suicide prevention events system. 

ORIGINS

The city is a place of industrial and socially significant objects, thus the accidents or emergencies occurring on its territory have significant consequences for human life and the environment.Coordinated actions of the emergency and recovery services enable to minimize the damage caused by incidents. 

Information and Control Center of Ufa City provides the achievement of the coherence in the work of the control and emergency services.

The main purpose of the Information and Control Center of Ufa City is the timely emergency measures to prevent, localize and eliminate emergencies. Due to the effective and high-quality work of the staff, constant modernization of the material and technical base, Information and Control Center of Ufa City was recognized as the bestCenter in the Volga Federal District  for three times (in 2013, 2014 and 2016).  

Ufa City Municipal District Administration finances the Information and Control Center. Information and Control Center has:

• trained staff (40 persons)

• technical equipment 
  

Information and Control Center of Ufa City of Ufa City Municipal Institution “Civil Protection Department” is an evolutionary practice. The Center is extending the services. It gets more and more information systems that allow tracking the situation on the controlled territory.Crisis psychologists provide qualified assistance to the population.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

This project is a part of the functional management system implemented by the executive authorities of the city. 

The only obstacle in implementation of this project may be the lack of material resources at the initial stage. 

DESIRED CHANGE OR OUTCOME

Since the foundation the Information and Control Center of Ufa City has received and processed over 12 million applications from the citizens and was recognized as the best Information and Control Center in the Volga Federal District (in 2013, 2014 and 2016). 

The main indicators of the work of the Information and Control Center of Ufa City are:

• Reducing the response time of operation services to incidents;

• Residents’ evaluation of the duty officers work.    
  

The center is equipped with all the necessary equipment. There is an opportunity in the Information and control center to receive video and audio information from the emergency situation liquidation area and carry out videoconferences with all the officials of the executives of the center and Administration of Ufa. 

LEARNING ASPECTS

Other cities can learn the following. The Information and Control Center of Ufa city acts as the body of everyday control over emergency control and coordinates the activities of the emergency services of the city when there facing a threat of a state of emergency as well as when eliminating its consequences.      

The center works 24/7. Each shift includes 11 staff members with a crisis psychologist, program expert and driver. The duty shift registers about 3500 appeals every day. This indicator enables other cities obtain good experience from Ufa. 

RELEVANCE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

• Target 1: Access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums

• Target 3: Participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management

• Target 5: Reduce deaths and number of people affected by disasters with particular focus on the poor and people in vulnerable situations
  

III. Center of Temporary Accommodation (Emergency Fund)

BASIC CITY DATA

• Population size: 1,131,429.00

• Population growth rate(%): 40.50

• Surface area (sq.km): 707.90

• Population density (people/sq.km): 1,598.20

• GDP per capita (USD): 6,405.20

• GINI index: 0.25

ABSTRACT

Emergency Fund was founded for helping Ufa citizens 24 hours a day who have suffered as a result of emergency situations or who might face such problem. The staff members of the fund do their best for the citizens to have as comfortable conditions as possible. The citizens are also supported morally and legally in the fund, they receive an opportunity to celebrate fests, visit concerts, children camps etc.    

Center of Temporary Accommodation (Emergency Fund) of Ufa city has administrators among the staff who are on duty 24 hours a day, which enables the fund to accommodate people at any time. The center staff members regularly have a special training in terms of providing first aid as well as acting during emergency situations.  

The people who receive accommodation in Center of Temporary Accommodation (Emergency Fund) of Ufa city sign a short-term agreement for a period from 6 to 12 months. Short-term contracts are so called stimulus for the people to fulfill their obligations to restore their own accommodation place. When living in the fund the citizens pay only for housing and communal services. They may prolong their stay in the fund if they keep all the rules of living there, pay for the communal services and fulfill their obligations to restore their own accommodation place.

For the last years the fund provided accommodation for more than 2500 citizens of Ufa. Today the center is the only Russian permanent unit providing people temporary accommodation, moral and legal support.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

What should people do if they lost their accommodation? This issue was very significant 15 years ago in Ufa. This is why  Emergency Fund was founded later on. Its main purpose has been help Ufa citizens 24 hours a day who have suffered as a result of emergency situations or who might face such problem. The staff members of the fund do their best for the citizens to have as comfortable conditions as possible. 

ORIGINS

The everyday life of each city is its people who might lose their accommodation as a result of emergency.
Each of them has a right for an accommdation but doesn`t always have such opportunity. The emergency fund gives them the opportunity. 

A modern developed city must give its people the level which is needed for healthy life and welfare and has an opportunity to provide them accommodation if they need it urgently as a result of emergency etc. 

The initiative provides temporary accommodation and social benefits for those who lost their permanent accommodation as a result of emergency for the time while restoring the permanent accommodation.   

One of the activities of Emergency Fund is charity parnership. 

For these purposes the fund cooperates with different charity organizations, sponsors, citizens willing help financially to those who suffered.

The fund cooperates permenently with "Russian Red Cross" all-Russian social organization, "Markhamat" Charity Education Fund, State Council of Bashkortostan Republic, mass media etc. 

Citizens receive clothes, houshold items and other necessary things as charity.   

The resources used for implementing the initiative come from the budget of the city of Ufa as the fund belongs to Civil Defence Division of the Administration of Ufa city. The fund is public. 

The fund has:

• accommodaion in different parts of the city, i.e. five-floor residential house with 3 staircases, 1 staircase of nine-floor residential house, one-floor building with 11 rooms, 4 three- and two-room appartments.

• necessary amount of staff members  (40 people) responsive to the needs of those who lost their accommodation as a result of emergency (plumbing, carpentry and other needs);

• technological infrastructure for all all necessary activities;

• property and basic necessities for the suffered.

There are administrators on duty at all areas of the fund, which enables to provide accommodation to the suffered 24/7. 

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS 

Revolutionary: 15 years ago Ufa faced a very serious problem of where should people go if they lost their accommodation due to an emergency situation or disaster. This resulted to founding Center of Temporary Accommodation (Emergency Fund) of Ufa city. 

Evolutionary: During the implementation of the initiative a system of informing Ufa citizens throught the internet was developed as well as a system of interacting with mass media, a strategy of individual approach to each citizen according to social and age pecularities. 

The project development resulted in widening the range of help to Ufa citizens, i.e. temporary registration at the place of residence, legal, psychological assistance, charity support.   

Today Emergency Fund is the first and the only Russian permanent unit providing people temporary accommodation, moral and legal support.   

The itinerary is implemented by the executive power of the municipality of Ufa city.

The only obstacle of implementing the itinerary may be the absence of the necessary resources on its initial stage.

DESIRED CHANGE OR OUTCOME

For the last years the fund provided accommodation for more than 2500 citizens of Ufa. Today the center is the only Russian permanent unit providing people temporary accommodation, moral and legal support. The amount of the people suffered of emergency decreased significantly.

Methods applied in the project include

• Small amount of saff members who are professional and ready to provide an immediate and qualitative response to the needs of the affected citizens;

• Equipping of the rooms with basic necessities;

• Improve of adjacent territories, building of children`s play areas;

• Permanent cooperation with charity funds and sponsors;

• Alternate accommodation sources in case of emergency settling;

• Support of the Administration of Ufa city.      

After its foundation Emergency Fund and Ufa City Administration receive letters and comments of gratitude from the citizens. For the last several years the fund took part in all-Russian competitions and forums where it received federal awards. Thanks to this many other russian cities and regions are interested in the itinerary, which influences the image of Ufa positively.

LEARNING ASPECTS

The staff members of the fund do their best for the citizens to have as comfortable conditions as possible. The citizens are also supported morally and legally in the fund, they receive an opportunity to celebrate fests, visit concerts, children camps etc. The center staff members regularly have a special training in terms of providing first aid as well as acting during emergency situations. 

The people who receive accommodation in Center of Temporary Accommodation (Emergency Fund) of Ufa city sign a short-term agreement for a period from 6 to 12 months. Short-term contracts are so called stimulus for the people to fulfill their obligations to restore their own accommodation place. When living in the fund the citizens pay only for housing and communal services. They may prolong their stay in the fund if they keep all the rules of living there, pay for the communal services and fulfill their obligations to restore their own accommodation place.

RELEVANCE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

• Target 1: Access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
  

• Target 3: Participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management

• Target 5: Reduce deaths and number of people affected by disasters with particular focus on the poor and people in vulnerable situations