FOCUS | Center for Education and Participation of the Initiative for Social Rehabilitation eV.

Center for Education and Participation of the Initiative for Social Rehabilitation eV.

The Initiative for Social Rehabilitation (Initiative zur sozialen Rehabilitation e.V.) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 following the closure of a long-term psychiatric clinic and a critical examination of conventional, medically oriented psychiatry. Today, the Initiative offers psychosocial, educational, and practical support for people with mental illness, addiction, drug dependency, and intellectual disabilities, primarily through supported living arrangements. The foundation of this empowerment- and recovery-oriented work is the participation of these individuals in the constructive development of the support system. In this spirit, the organization advocates for self-determined and independent living, as well as for the participation of its clients in social life.

FOKUS offers for professionals:

• Continuing education and training for professionals
• Consulting and supervision for professionals, organizations and companies
• Concept development of educational programs, counselling settings, psychiatric and psychosocial services to strengthen our values ​​and attitudes

Our team is interdisciplinary, comprised of specialists and EX-IN peer support workers. EX-IN peer support workers have personal experience with mental illness and have completed the EX-IN training program. Our approach is based on the concepts of inclusion, empowerment, and recovery. We have been working regionally and internationally for over 20 years. Through our work, we empower individuals, build bridges, and foster connections. Our goal is to enable greater social participation for people with mental health challenges and to improve the quality of their care.

EX-IN Bremen: Experts through experience in psychiatry.
FOKUS trains EX-IN peer support workers in healthcare (qualification).

Work in Focus:
Are you looking to find a path to employment or training? We advise, guide, and support you along the way. We assist you in developing career prospects, finding internships, job and training opportunities, as well as with applications and interviews. We continue to support you even after you have found employment. To achieve this, we cooperate with companies and numerous partners. Our goal is also to give you hope that, despite difficult circumstances, it is possible to find employment or training. We are a team of experienced job coaches and EX-IN recovery support workers. EX-IN recovery support workers have personal experience with mental illness and have completed a one-year training program. They contribute their experiences and understand the challenges on the road back to the job market. Thanks to funding from the European Social Fund and the State of Bremen, our services are free of charge.

The
Empowerment College is a place where people with very different perspectives and backgrounds meet. In courses requiring a manageable time commitment, they acquire knowledge about mental health topics and exchange ideas. The participants are students and choose their courses and goals independently.

Crazy – so what? (For school classes)
With the prevention program "Crazy? So what!" we address school classes from the eighth grade onwards. We bring the topic of mental health into the school and show simple and effective ways in which students and teachers can overcome crises together and strengthen mental health so that everyone can succeed in school!

a provider of
continuing education for professionals in psychiatric fields, has been active in this area for over 20 years. We offer nationally and internationally recognized concepts and approaches in psychosocial care.

Open Dialogue
: The concept of "open dialogue" has been used in various regions of Finland since the early 1980s. This systemic approach has since spread throughout Scandinavia and is increasingly prevalent in the rest of Europe. In Bremen, the concept has become an important tool within community-based care. The principles of networking and open dialogue are central to this approach. The basic training course is aimed at all stakeholders in the psychiatric care system – both inpatient and outpatient. In addition to theoretical input, the training will include numerous practical exercises to facilitate implementation in everyday practice.

FOCUS for Companies
This training course is aimed at specialists, managers, and employees in the service sector. It aims to make dealing with employees affected by mental illness and with customers with mental health conditions safer and more competent.