Family Health Advisor

The rapidly growing demand for medical services, healthy lifestyle practices, and disease prevention highlighted the need for a professionalized approach to family health. However, there was a sig...

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, led to an unprecedented global health crisis. As healthcare systems struggled to cope, less attention was given to prevention and health promotion, particularly in areas like immune health, which could benefit from herbal medicine. The use of herbal remedies has been increasing worldwide, largely due to their effectiveness and lower side effects compared to conventional treatments. Contrary to the common belief that only wealthier populations seek modern medical treatments, studies revealed that the use of herbal medicine is more common among socioeconomically advantaged groups. Our project aimed to address this inequality by promoting greater access to herbal remedies across different socio-economic levels. Through family-centered health education, we encouraged self-management practices, such as using herbal remedies to support immune health or assist in the treatment of conditions like childhood obesity, diabetes, and nutritional problems. The project also focused on the development of the Family Health Adviser (FHA) profession. We created a comprehensive training program and competence prof

Implemented activities: 1.All planned intellectual outcomes were developed, and even their scope was expanded – two education programs were created instead of one. 2.Four LTT (Learning, Teaching, and Training) events were conducted in partner countries, which significantly improved the competencies of partner institution staff in areas such as types and specifics of health counseling, programs and specifics of education in medical and paramedical professions, knowledge and specifics of the disciplinary, methodological, and didactic workshop in staff training, and integration possibilities of practical activities in educational programs. The joint workshops were an essential element that allowed participants to become familiar with the differences and specifics of each country, the perspectives represented by individual institutions, and the possibility of utilizing the solutions developed by them. 3.Four TPM (Transnational Project Meetings) were held, which served not only for project management but also for consulting the developed solutions. 4.Four multiplier events were organized in partner countries, with 300 participants, which increased the project’s reach and impact. 5.Associated partners were involved in the project activities.

As part of the project, the following materials were developed: 1.Family Health Advisors (FHA) training program: a. The 'short' program – a professional development course designed to supplement the competencies of individuals working with families, especially therapists, coaches, and counselors. This course consists of 110 hours of training and can be implemented by training institutions. b. Postgraduate Study Program – Family Health Advisor, covering 2 semesters of education. 2.Detailed Competency Profile of a Family Health Advisor 3.Methodology of the work of a Family Health Advisor 4.Analysis of the conditions for implementing the activities of family health advisers in family support systems in the partner countries. The project contributed to the professionalization and quality assurance of family health services by developing international standards that improved service quality and accessibility. It reshaped how family support is perceived, promoting positive, developmental approaches to working with families in health-related contexts. Universities involved enhanced their educational offerings, boosting staff's methodological and didactic skills. This, in turn, is expected to benefit students and future professionals. The project raised the prestige and visibility of participating organizations, attracting interest in their educational and community initiatives. It also fostered internationalization by encouraging staff and student exchanges, while strengthening transnational cooperation and motivating partners to pursue further joint projects.