SUMMARY OF THE IMPACT DESCRIPTION

The result of the research was creating and implementing a series of programmes dedicated to children, young people, parents, soldiers, prison officers. They are based on an original methodology of brief group preventive intervention and an interdisciplinary theoretical model. Since they are included in the National System of Recommended Programmes, they are generally available. This phenomenon was researched in 1997-2020 by Krzysztof Wojcieszek, a respected scientist in this field. In 2020, two programmes (Debate and ARS…) reached over 70,000 participants. Implementations are accompanied by evidence-based science research in prevention actions. Recent developments include the “Corrections for Inmates” e-learning programme for prison officers, and an alcohol prevention manual for the prison system. The culmination was proposing elements of National Programmes (both non-governmental and governmental), and the evaluation of the so-called Anti-violence Act (nationwide programme).

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN RESEARCH FINDINGS

Developing effective educational interventions with a preventive effect is a major global challenge. The result of the research conducted by Dr. Krzysztof Wojcieszek was implementing a series of universal prevention programmes for all age groups. The unique and universal nature of these programmes is reflected in their: simplicity, understandability, easy adaptation and application. All programmes have the published scripts (e.g. Noe, Przygotowanie do profilaktyki domowej, Debata, Korekta, Smak życia czyli debata o dopalaczach, Dżungla), and since they are included in the National System of Recommended Prevention Programmes, also universal and open access [R1]. Wojcieszek implemented them directly (and indirectly in a cascade system) over the last twenty years, reaching about 500,000 people in several hundred towns across Poland. E.g. “Sonda 21” reached 230,000 students in more than 10,000 schools with the participation of 130 newspapers and TV [R2]. The activities used modern technologies like e-learning, webcasts. Thanks to an innovative solution, it is possible to reach social groups struggling with alcohol problems in a quick and targeted manner. Thanks to flexibility of the design and media, the programmes can be quickly adapted to changes in society, ensuring that content is constantly updated and fresh [R3]. Embracing the broad masses has made it possible to identify, after many years, those social groups, professional groups and formations that were previously excluded. The “Corrections for Inmates” programme is aimed at 70,000 inmates, but also 30,000 prison officers, and is being implemented systematically from 2019 by the SWWS, both as face-to-face learning and e-learning [R4]. The research conducted here in matching the type of intervention to the requirements of working with a group is currently the strongest area of exploration, application and social impact. In this regard, very important research was conducted by a team led by Dr. Beata Maria Nowak on the application of the transdermal alcohol monitoring system (TMSA) in the prison population. The results obtained were included in the recommendations submitted to the Ministry of Justice. A parallel area of research led by Dr. Beata Maria Nowak was the problem of domestic violence [R5]. Results of the research presented as key theses on the protection of society, families and children raised in them, were used in impact assessment of the regulation attached to the evaluation of the so-called the anti-violence act.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROLE OF THE ENTITY IN ACHIEVING THE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY EFFECTS

The Problem Prevention Unit of the Institute of Social Foundations of Penitentiary of the Academy of Justice systematically supports research and implementation activities led by Dr. Krzysztof Wojcieszek, whose knowledge and expertise has made it possible to transfer experience and research results to the national and European level. He established Europejskie Towarzystwo Badań nad Profilaktyką, which became the European Society for Prevention Research. The SWWS team led by Dr. Wojcieszka has promoted many community-wide activities through national secular and church institutions.

The work of the team led by Dr. Beata Maria Nowak focuses on the broadly defined risk society, the crisis of the modern family, readaptation and social reintegration of former inmates and their families. Research results were carried out on a survey group of over 3,000 sharing valuable comments, experiences and opinions on building a complementary protection system for people affected by violence.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION AND SUMMARY OF NOT MORE THAN 5 SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

No.
Title of proof of contribution
Type
Brief characteristics
The author and his team
R1
Wojcieszek K. (2019). Suggestion for Poland: sobriety. A study in the field of social pedagogy. DiG: Warsaw
monografia
The monograph is for those interested in the practical implementation of the NPT, but especially to the Polish elite, since, as proven by the history of actions in the 20th century, the attitude of the elite determines the pace and direction of any changes.
R2
Wojcieszek K. (2019). Socio-cultural determinants of effective support for school health and prevention, [in:] Prevention at school. Status and recommendations for the system of preventive interactions in Poland, Robert Porzak (ed.), Wyd. “You Have a Chance” Foundation: Lublin, pp. 97- 126.
rozdział
The paper presents school-based prevention programmes in Poland as a whole, based on a two-year field study. The referenced text refers to the socio-cultural determinants of sobriety education, indicating trends in protective factors and their current deficits resulting from research.
R3
Wojcieszek K.A. Iwanicka K., Krokosz E., Nowogrodzka A., Wojcieszek M.R. (2021). Prevention of alcohol problems in the penitentiary system. Warsaw: DiG Publishing House
monografia
The monograph is a comprehensive theoretical basis for the implementation of the “Correction for Inmates” alcohol prevention programme, the e-learning course of which was successfully launched by the SWWS. It can be both a self-study guide for students of the programme and a basis for designing research and prevention actions for inmates. A very valuable filling of the gap in resocialisation in the prison system.
R4
Wojcieszek M., Piekarz I., Maciaszek S., Wojcieszek K. (2021). Summative evaluation of the “Debate” program for alcohol related problems prevention – pilot study. Alcohol and Drug Addiction, 2021, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 51-68.
artykuł
The text presents results of the “Debata” prevention programme field research, which turns out to be the most popular proposal in Poland for V-VI grade primary schools pupils (over 52k participants according to the Report on the State of Drug Addiction of KBdsPN for 2020). Prevention research clearly seeks an effective impact, but this needs to be empirically proven. Analysis of the results obtained allows us to conclude that the programme is working as intended (attitudes and behaviour).
R5
Nowak B. (2020). [Not] doomed to exclusion. From pathology to the norm of social behavior. Warsaw: DiG Publishing House.
monografia
The monograph is an interdisciplinary study with references to the achievements of many scientific fields corresponding with its problematic area and connected with the idea of holistic approach to pathological phenomena, including crime and recidivism. The monograph presents the problems of readaptation and social reintegration of ex-inmates in a comprehensive way. The essential aim of imprisonment is the moral improvement of the convicted person, involving radical transformation of his personality, resulting in a change in the regulation of his relations with his environment and increasing his chances of positive readaptation and social reintegration. Achieving this maximum depends, i.a., on taking action leading to the induction of positive motivation and including inmates in the process of internal change. A multifaceted, logistically difficult research project that took several years has resulted in a monograph that may contribute to changing the social perception of people leaving penitentiary institutions and activating social forces in local communities necessary to comprehensively support them in their readaptation efforts, which will lead to successful social reintegration and thus to increased public safety.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IMPACT OF SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE ONES THE RESULTS OF WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO COMMERCIALISATION, INDICATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY AND THAT IMPACT AND THE SOCIAL GROUP BENEFICIARY OF THAT IMPACT AND THE AREA ON WHICH THE SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY HAS THE MOST IMPACT

Currently, under the influence of research (e.g. Anderson P., Baumberg B., Alcohol in Europe, 2007), it is believed that designing and implementing effective prevention actions in the field of alcohol problems is very difficult, especially that the recorded effects of, e.g., school prevention disappear after few years. In Poland, it is estimated that as many as 70 % of inmates have problems with psychoactive substance use (including 25 % with alcohol addiction). Alcohol abuse is one of the 3 most important factors for premature loss of health and life globally (WHO), and available addiction treatment procedures are only effective in 1/3 of cases. The results of our study resulted in a breakthrough in access to effective, modern prevention of alcohol and drug problems for children, young people and adults (especially parents or uniformed services) [S1, S2].

As for young people, they have sufficiently offset the adverse effects of alcohol marketing that there has been a slight but steady decline in average alcohol consumption among young people in recent years. This has not been achieved among adults, although there have been improvements in selected groups. Relevant chapters of the National Health Programme and the National Sobriety Programme give hope for improvements among adults. Both are systematically popularised by SWWS. The innovation in the programme design was marked by their well-thought-out psychological schema, which ensured easy implementation and high acceptance by audiences of all groups. Due to their scope, these activities have improved the knowledge and competences of those responsible for this part of social policy. Moreover, prevention activities in Poland are based on the activity of local authorities. In accordance with the law, each commune in Poland has its own individual local alcohol prevention and problem-solving programme, in many cases supported by Dr. Krzysztof Wojcieszek and the team. In addition, national programmes exist and are being implemented as the National Health Programme and the National Sobriety Programme. Dr. K.Wojcieszek has been and still is involved in their preparation, he is also the author of the draft of the National Sobriety Programme that was proceeded at the national Sobriety Congress in Warsaw in 2017. Dr. Wojcieszek is a two-time official member of the Ministry of Health’s team of experts creating successive editions of the National Programme for Prevention and Solving of Alcohol-related Problems. Their continuation is now focused on action for the Prison Service and for people incarcerated in Polish prisons, as this group shows persistent deficits in the form of alcohol and drug problems, which increases the chances of turning to crime again. SWWS implements and develops a new concept of linking crime prevention with risk behaviour prevention through the implementation of the “Correction for inmates” programme [S3].

This activity is inherently interdisciplinary and has a multifaceted impact on health care, economy, law and order, education. This is because alcohol and drug problems are not limited only to the subject of addiction, but have a wide-ranging impact on the whole of society in many areas (risky and harmful drinking). The activities undertaken provide an educational resource for programmes locally, regionally, nationally and in part even internationally, as evidenced by the dissemination of knowledge within The European Prison Training Academies network, which SWWS chaired in 2021 [S4].

An extremely important element of the SWWS research, led by Dr. Beata Maria Nowak was a pilot attempt to implement a transdermal alcohol monitoring system (TMSA) in inmates who were granted temporary permission to leave the penitentiary unit due to the undertaking of external employment in the system without an escort or a pass granted. The project, located in the area of social readaptation of convicts, contributes to the optimal preparation of convicts in maintaining self-discipline over uncontrolled alcohol consumption. The Deputy Minister of Justice, Dr Marcin Romanowski, expressed his satisfaction with the results achieved in the implementation of modern solutions for the penitentiary system and readaptation of convicts.

The SWWS also made an important contribution to the amendments under way related to the monitoring of the Act on Amendments to the Civil Procedure Code and Certain Other Acts (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 956) – aka the Anti-violence Act. The team led by Dr. Beata Maria Nowak shared valuable comments and opinions of intervention and assistance services tasked with applying the new solutions of the Anti-violence Act. It thus contributes to building a complementary protection system for people affected by violence. The Anti-Violence Act came into force on 30 November 2021, making perpetrators of domestic violence subject to immediate isolation from their victims [S5].

Interdisciplinarity of scientific research

Evidence-based/science-based prevention programmes – research, training, support, courses, participation in research teams.
The Problem Prevention Unit of the Institute of Social Foundations of Penitentiary of the Academy of Justice provides care and conducts research (e.g. evaluation research) and improves the prevention programmes listed below.

Our research shapes the nationwide prevention programmes targeting a diverse population (children, adolescents, adults, seniors)

1. [Debate] prevention programme (included in the national list of recommended programmes, takes one of the leading places in terms of application in the state – 4th place in terms of the number of participants, at least 170 municipalities apply it according to official lists – see lists of the National Bureau for Drug Prevention (KBdsPN) and the State Agency for the Prevention of Alcohol-Related Problems (PARPA), at least 50 thousand participants per year). Participation of the Academy of Justice in training of staff for implementation – exclusivity in the state, dozens of people per year / each multiplying the programme (cascade system) + ongoing information about the programme.

 

TRAINING ON THE “DEBATA” [DEBATE] PREVENTION PROGRAMME

OPINION ABOUT “DEBATA” [DEBATE] PROGRAMME

TASTE OF LIFE OR DEBATE ON LEGAL HIGHS

NATIONAL BUREAU FOR DRUG PREVENTION

THANKS FOR THE EXPERTISE – “DEBATA” [DEBATE]

 

2. [Jungle] prevention programme. By the will of the author it is in the public domain, intended for parents of students, for use in schools. Based on the publication from 2016.

PREVENTION PROGRAMME FOR PARENTS – “DŻUNGLA” [JUNGLE]. Structure, principles and potential applications

JOURNAL Studia Paedagogica Ignatiana – Abstract

 

3. Prevention programme “ARS czyli jak dbać o miłość” [ARS or how to take care of love] for young people of reproductive age on alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse during pregnancy and breastfeeding – prevention of FAS. It is on the national list of recommended programmes. Final grades of upper-secondary schools, Polish-Swiss project. Implemented in ½ of all upper-secondary schools in Poland. In cooperation with the Chief Sanitary Inspector.

 

 

 

The programme is implemented in the selected educational institutions:

 

Our research reaches hitherto overlooked and socially excluded groups

  1. “Korekta” [Correction] programme as applied to working with high-risk young people and adults. Refers to the prevention of alcohol abuse. It is systematically used in the education of students of the Academy of Justice (cadets and postgraduates – over 600 per year). The programme is also implemented in the form of a brief preventive intervention, which allows for a variety of preventive measures to change the environmental norms of these services towards sobriety.

    “KOREKTA” [CORRECTION] PREVENTION PROGRAMME – FOR ADULT YOUTH.

Our research has improved community health outcomes through flexible adaptation to social changes.

  1. Participation in several research teams carrying out evaluation of prevention programmes and the whole system of prevention in Poland:

 

  1. “You Have a Chance” Foundation in Lublin – printed report on the evaluation of the prevention system in Poland.
  2. “Poza Schematami” [Outside the Box] Foundation: participation – consultation in the design of the new prevention programme “Dobry Start” [Good Start] for adults.

Opinion on the safety of using smartphones, tablets and computers by children and adolescents – prepared by dr hab. Krzysztof A. Wojcieszek (PhD with habilitation), Professor at the Academy of Justice

Recent decades have been characterised by a rapid increase in the use of communication through electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, especially laptops).

News – conferences, inteviews, articles, broadcasts

Acknowledgment from the MINISTRY OF JUSTICE for prof. Beata Maria Nowak for developing a research project related to the entry into force of the so-called anti-violence act.

Ruch Światło-Życie honored people and institutions that implement in social life the ideas announced by tle Movement – the Servant of God, Franciszek Blachnicki. Among the laureates there was dr hab. Krzysztof Wojcieszek

Dr hab. Krzysztof Wojcieszek, prof. SWWS in recognition of his special commitment to counteracting drug addiction, he was awarded by the National Bureau for Drug Prevention.

Quarterly – Alcoholism and Drug Addiction: Pilot Evaluation of the Outcome of an Alcohol Prevebtion Program
„Debate” – 2021; 34 (1): 51-68

Radio Maryja: I solve Polish alcohol problems? part II02.08.2021

Radio Maryja: I solve Polish alcohol problems? part I. – 02.08.2021

GOŚĆ.PL- Percentages in the time of the virus 01.07.2021

Polskie Radio 24 – “Civil society. Reactivation” – 13.06.2021

Article Onet – 28.03.2021

Article Onet – 14.08.2020

Conference „Responsibility of parliamentarians and the authorities for the sobriety of the nation” 02.04.2019

Report on the state of drug addiction in Poland 2020.

Honorable mention for the professor Krzysztofa Wojcieszka

SCOPE OF THE IMPACT

Międzynarodowy

IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPACT

Istotne