The Chamber is delighted to support and assist the Mojo programme in Kildare. The programme supports men who are affected by unemployment. Chief Executive of the Chamber Allan Shine is also Chair of Kildare Local Employment Service Network and has joined the Mojo programme on their Advisory Board.
The initial programme will commence in Kildare Town in September and will assist men who are:
Unemployed, in distress, are motivated to change and are able to participate in a 12 week programme, 2 mornings a week. Further details on this initiative are through Niamh@kildare.mojo-programme.org or 085 2845871
Background on Mojo
Mojo is an interagency programme (managed in Kildare by Teach Dara Community & Family Centre and funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention) developed to provide a coordinated response to men who are in ‘distress’ because of the recession and unemployment. The premise is that forced unemployment can increase a man’s risk to suicide.
The key objectives are to provide a resource to men by way of a training programme that engages them on a bi-weekly basis and to facilitate statutory and non-statutory organisations to work together. In working together to develop and facilitate Mojo it is expected that the organisations will become more familiar with each other’s services and in turn provide a more comprehensive response to men who find themselves in difficult financial and social situations.
Mojo Programme
The objectives
The expected outputs for the Programme are:
- An interagency network established to support the mental health of men who, in particular, find themselves in difficult economic circumstances.
- Improved links between frontline services that lead to improved outcomes for men ‘in distress.’
- The development of interagency work practices.
- The participation of approximately 30 men that will benefit directly from the programme.
The development of an internal tool for gathering information on levels of risk in relation to suicide and self harm are to have a programme that is responsive to men in ‘distress’ by:
- Developing strong cross-agency working relationships.
- Developing inter-agency work methods and key working protocols.
- Increasing awareness of supports and services available.
- Creating an integrated service that includes improved access to appropriate counselling, financial and welfare advice and employment and training support.
- Developing frontline staff’s capacity to respond, through the delivery of appropriate training programmes, to our target group.
- Monitoring and evaluating outcomes and outputs.
The intended outcomes for the men:
The men will:
- Engage with a group process that is supportive and responsive to their needs.
- Experience improved self esteem and self worth.
- Access information on available services and supports.
- Be empowered to access relevant services and supports.
- Be supported to develop a personal action plan (a Mojo Plan) to progress onto other opportunities.
- Increased their ability to manage their own mental health, physical health and self care.
The intended outcomes for the programme:
- The establishment of an effective interagency network.
- The development of a referral system to respond to our target group’s needs.
- The development of an effective intervention for working with men in distress.