The actions of the project stem from the targets and are realized in three below-mentioned planes of concern. Every plane of activity was ascribed to a different task.
The Małopolska Social Policy Observatory work results are disseminated through promotional activities planned in the project i.e. publishing the results of research and analyses on the project web site as well as their dissemination in hard copies, conferences and various types of meetings as well as other publishing activity.
Research and analysesThe Małopolska Social Policy Observatory is also active in analyzing and researching the Małopolska Region. The research and analyses is driven by the idea of applicability and fitness of the research and analyses results in the area of social Policy.
The Observatory runs cyclical research, including analysis of existing data while additionally running one-off research projects. At all times, topics of the research and analysis activities planned and carried out by the Observatory are based on research which is fundamental for our activity i.e. research identifying demand for information both at the local and regional level. We also make an effort to react to the on-going demand for data by preparing studies inspired by information gaps diagnosed during our daily work, also as a result of our dealing with entities involved in projects.
Research which identifies demand for information is cyclical and run every other year. The first research in the cycle was carried out in 2008 and repeated in 2010. Between the research which diagnoses a deficit of information, a research programme is implemented, modified by on-going implementation of the project. Thanks to a regular identification of demand for information, the research and analyses under the project respond to actual needs and can have a direct practical application of their results.
The Internet Library of Małopolska Observatories is a one collective source of information on publications on social integration, equal opportunities, labour market, education and enterprise which is available on the Internet. The ILMO was established in June 2009 as a result of collaboration of the Labour Market and Education Observatory of Małopolska and the Małopolska Social Policy Observatory by expanding the library built during the first project. At the moment, the ILMO describes and offers a direct access to more than 1,200 publications including research reports, analyses, studies, bulletins, handbooks and scientific articles. Studies collected in the library are primarily focused on Poland and the Małopolska Region and, to some extent, on Europe and other regions of Poland. Most publications can be accessed directly on the Internet. The publications available in hard copies only are included in the ILMO only when they represent a particularly valuable (unique) source of information on some aspects of social integration, labour market and education. Publications are obtained from their publishers’ web sites and directly from public administration authorities (both local and central government authorities), research centres and NGOs. The ILMO is addressed to the staff of local and regional public policies implementing institutions or institutions supporting social integration, labour market and education activities. Information collected in the ILMO is primarily addressed to:
ILMO’s offer is also addressed to academics and students as well as to all those looking for reliable and complete information on social integration, labour market and education.
Information resources of the ILMO may be helpful in:
The Małopolska Social Directory (MSD)
is a database with telephones and addresses helpful in indentifying social integration and welfare centres in the region. By definition, the MSD is to facilitate networking of social integration and welfare institutions, contribute to their collaboration as well as offer a structure-based and comprehensive aid to the residents of the Małopolska Region who need help.
In consideration of the key premise for creating the MSD, it is predominantly addressed at the regional personnel of the social integration system. In addition, the data available in the MSD, which is an Internet, open base, may be also used by all those who need information where go for help of various sorts when in need.
Entities in the MSD have been selected largely on the basis of a definition of welfare and social integration entities presented in the "Detailed Description of the Priorities of 2007 -2013 Operational Programme Human Capital". According to the definition, the entities include:
- welfare entities, including regional social policy centres, county centres for family care, centres for social services, residential and nursery homes, specialist consulting centres, including family counselling centres, 24-hour care and educational centres, adoption and care centres, support centres and crisis intervention centres;
- social employment entities;
- NGOs operating in the field of welfare and social integration;
- vocational activity entities;
- occupational therapy workshops.
In addition, the MSD includes information on labour market institutions and educational institutions as well as links to identified database of welfare and social integration entities.
Advantages of the MSD:
- all data in one place,
- data downloading options,
- clear and user-friendly entity description cards/sheets (apart from address and telephone numbers, additional information available),
- easy search,
- data updated on an on-going basis,
- a possibility to participate in database collection and updating,
- more than 900 entities in the database.
Both MSD and The Internet Library of Małopolska Observatories form an answer to the growing problem of data diffusion. In this case this is connected with large number of institutions of care register, data base created by various authorities.
For more information see
the Małopolska Social Directory
The Internet Social Statistics Observer (ISSO) is a site offering visual presentation of welfare indicators. In addition, the ISSO is an extender statistical database as well as an interactive tool. Owing to solutions applied in the ISSO, social situation monitoring becomes a competence of all interested parties.
The ISSO visualises various statistical data on the Małopolska Region, including data describing:
- quality of life and standard of living of residents;
- demographic conditions in the region;
- public security;
- health status of residents;
- access to culture and other social goods.
The ISSO database is updated on an on-going basis and a list of presented statistics is expanded. To a large extent, social indicators are available at the national, regional, county and municipal level. In justified cases (e.g. when data is collected in municipalities), statistics are published on higher levels only. Extensive definitions of all indicators used in the database are given, including methodology of their calculation and the data they are based on.
The ISSO can be used for:
- analysing chosen statistics with maps, graphs and tables;
- downloading finished maps, graphs and tables as "images" from the site;
- comparing one-year data from municipalities and counties (“VARIATION ANALYSIS");
- statistics of different years compared for municipalities, counties, region and country (“ANALYSING TRENDS").
The ISSO facilitates:
- access to information in the shortest possible time by collecting data from various sources in one location;
- analysis and interpretation of information thanks to its graphic presentation of data;
- observation of changes thanks to statistics from consecutive years.
The ISSO collects statistical information, valuable when implementing public policies. The database is chiefly addressed to regional personnel of the welfare and social integration system but can be also used by all those interested in information from the area of social policy and related statistics.
For more information see
the Internet Social Statistics Observer
Evaluation Evaluation of activities and building evaluation tools for personnel is propagated to facilitate evaluation of how effective the solutions are. A manual has been written: ”Evaluation Basics for Welfare” to guide in the evaluation process in the welfare sector and contribute to building non-existing standards in this area. The publication has been prepared by using recommendations from the research conducted under the project: ”Evaluation in Welfare Model” Implementation of the research guidelines included a series of training on evaluation, addressed to employees from welfare and social integration centres and institutions from the region. The ISSO popularises evaluation activities in the social sector by organising conferences and publishing topic-focused publications which include regional social policy staff in the debate about the need to evaluate.
Evaluation of activities in the area of social integration is also an important collection of publication in the ILMO which expands continuously.
