The current project aims to develop and mobilize the professional and public resources in the area of social services and care for children at risk on the territory of Aitos municipality. The analysis of the childcare system demonstrated the need for insuring better access to quality community-based services, aimed towards prevention and counteraction of the alienation, aggression and impaired communication between parents and children, self-injuring and destructive behaviour in children. One of the main goals of the project was to ensure the access to these services and their promotion. Part of the project activities were directed towards the development of a multidisciplinary approach and enhancing the capacity of the specialists working in the social services and schools on the territory of Aitos municipality. Establishing an effective mechanism of working with the State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) of the Social Assistance Directorate — Aitos (SAD) was set as the basis for ensuring timely and accessible psychological services, based in the community of children, parents and families at risk, in order to prevent social isolation and deviant behaviour.
The project “Social centre for children and families” started in November 2009. From the very start of the project, the team made every effort to attract as supporters institutions working with children at risk (without the former being official partners), so that it could achieve maximum scope of project activities. SACP of SAD Aitos was actively involved in the activities related to directing users to the services offered in the centre.
In terms of the specific project objectives, activities were mainly directed towards:
- developing the community capacity for support of children and adolescents at risk and the introduction of a multidisciplinary approach
- developing the capacity of the Social centre for children and families and presenting quality and accessible programs for children at risk and their families
During the first part, two trainings for 20 specialists from the social services in the municipality, educator advisors and social workers from “Alternatives” and “Balance” Associations, were conducted.
In March, following the provision of equipment, furnishing and restructuring of the centre premises, the second main activity was undertaken — development and provision of services for children at risk. The centre’s team developed their skills through 8 group supervisions, one work visit for experience exchange in “Association Animus” Foundation and discussions of different cases on regular team buildings. The enhanced capacity made it possible to establish the Centre as a place providing professional and quality psychological services.
Thanks to the project, conditions for access to a complex program of services for children, adolescents and families at risk with 3 subprograms for intervention and providing help have been created. The 8 volunteers and 12 specialists trained for work with children and adolescents at risk and their families developed the skills for leading a case and an approach for work with a multidisciplinary team and acquired knowledge in the area of identifying and formulating the child’s problem, informing and motivating the parents when looking for help. This is an innovative approach for Aitos municipality. The Centre, established thanks to the activities under this project, is currently the only psychological service in the municipality directed towards children and families at risk.
A total of 64 clients have taken advantage of the programs during this project.
The developed programs and services were popularized in the municipality through the organization of a press conference, a round table, dissemination of over 500 flyers, 1000 stickers and 25 posters, which helped for providing access to quality social services.
Contact information
Tatyana Stоyanova Vrabcheva-Ruseva
G-2 Orlovo Str., Aitos 8500, Bulgaria
Tel./Fax: ++359 558 2 7983
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