Breakthrough method has promising results in Heerlen-North
The municipality of Heerlen is leading the European project Citicess. In this project, families struggling with multiple problems are intensively helped according to an innovative method, the so-called "breakthrough method. In Heerlen, this has so far led to promising results; nine breakthroughs have already been achieved for six families. In the project Heerlen is cooperating with seven other European cities, Sofia, Aarhus, Budapest, Ballyhoura, Pordenone, Galati and Zaragoza. This week, the partner cities are visiting Heerlen to learn from the initial experiences and insights gained in Heerlen.
Last October, the new European pilot project Citicess started in Heerlen. As a result, intensive help for about 40 families from Heerlen-Noord with stalled assistance will be started for three years with family coaches, according to this new breakthrough method. Currently, thirteen families are being worked with, with more families joining each year. The participating households have multiple problems, such as addiction, debt, unemployment, domestic violence, psychological problems or a tendency to crime. Despite long-term help, no structural improvement occurred, which is why they qualified for the new breakthrough method.
Prevents social costs
The approach means that families are taken more by the hand by a family coach. This social worker takes care of matters that the family is not (or no longer) capable of and supervises the family more intensively. Breakthrough plans are made. Of the thirteen families currently receiving help in Heerlen, breakthrough plans have already been made for eight. Breakthroughs have already been achieved for six families.
Breakthroughs achieved include finding new housing, preventing eviction, expediting social assistance, purchasing textbooks and providing temporary cabs to school. Through these actions, huge sums of money, hundreds of thousands of dollars, are avoided in social costs. Currently, more than half a million in social costs have already been prevented.