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Preventive, Correctional and Educational Work with Children and Teenagers
Blagoevgrad Municipality
Background
The Social and Educational Center (SEC) in Blagoevgrad was established on September 28, 1995, by the Municipality of Blagoevgrad. Its goal is to effectively work with children in factual and potential risk, according to the Antisocial Deeds Act. Approximately 8,000 children live in a criminal environment in the municipality of Blagoevgrad. These are children who do not go to school and who are part of groups in unequal position, such as:
children with only one parent, children of divorced parents and single mothers; children of re-married parents; adopted children; children of unemployed parents; of disabled parents; of alcoholics; of criminal offenders; children of Roma origin; inhaling drug addicts; children who are victims of violence or cruelty.
The criminal age limit is getting lower and prostitution, drug addiction, vagrancy and homelessness become more and more common among the children.
The Social and Educational Center (SEC) in Blagoevgrad was established on September 28, 1995, by the Municipality of Blagoevgrad. Its goal is to effectively work with children in factual and potential risk, according to the Antisocial Deeds Act. Approximately 8,000 children live in a criminal environment in the municipality of Blagoevgrad. These are children who do not go to school and who are part of groups in unequal position, such as:
children with only one parent, children of divorced parents and single mothers; children of re-married parents; adopted children; children of unemployed parents; of disabled parents; of alcoholics; of criminal offenders; children of Roma origin; inhaling drug addicts; children who are victims of violence or cruelty.
The criminal age limit is getting lower and prostitution, drug addiction, vagrancy and homelessness become more and more common among the children.
Practice
SEC has a 6-strong staff but also utilizes unemployed people with higher education under the temporary employment program of the Labor Bureau. To support the children, SEC is implementing the following activities:
Social assistance to abandoned children or at risk children.
SEC provides textbooks, clothes, two weekly visits of a city bath, shelter, holidays, entertainment and birthday celebrations. If necessary, the children are hosted by competent institutions: Children and Adolescents Homes and others. Even in such cases, the social assistance unit maintains follow-up contacts with the children. SEC provides help to children aged 16 or more in finding employment and, in some cases, helps their parents as well.
Educational assistance is provided by teachers, school supervisors and public tutors. They take care of the temporary hosted children, work individually with the children and their families, provide assistance in school conflict solving, assist the children in choosing a career and provide oversight during holidays.
Psychological assistance is provided by an unit headed by an expert psychologist. The focus is on psychological prevention and psychological correction. If necessary, the unit is interacting with public organizations to provide assistance and protection to children. There is also a 24-hour hotline for children and teenagers that is extremely popular.
SEC conducts regular surveys in almost all schools in the region to identify the most pressing problems of the youth. The collected information is analyzed by student volunteers and is used as a basis for the development and dissemination of educational materials on important issues. The latest brochures, Parents and school together and What should everyone know about drugs , are published in partnership with the School Dialog Center and Save the Children.
The Municipality of Blagoevgrad has the obligation to develop SEC s organizational structure and budget. The Municipality has provided the building and is covering operating expenditures. Staff salaries are financed by the Ministry of Education and project costs are funded by sponsorships, donations, etc.
SEC has a 6-strong staff but also utilizes unemployed people with higher education under the temporary employment program of the Labor Bureau. To support the children, SEC is implementing the following activities:
Social assistance to abandoned children or at risk children.
SEC provides textbooks, clothes, two weekly visits of a city bath, shelter, holidays, entertainment and birthday celebrations. If necessary, the children are hosted by competent institutions: Children and Adolescents Homes and others. Even in such cases, the social assistance unit maintains follow-up contacts with the children. SEC provides help to children aged 16 or more in finding employment and, in some cases, helps their parents as well.
Educational assistance is provided by teachers, school supervisors and public tutors. They take care of the temporary hosted children, work individually with the children and their families, provide assistance in school conflict solving, assist the children in choosing a career and provide oversight during holidays.
Psychological assistance is provided by an unit headed by an expert psychologist. The focus is on psychological prevention and psychological correction. If necessary, the unit is interacting with public organizations to provide assistance and protection to children. There is also a 24-hour hotline for children and teenagers that is extremely popular.
SEC conducts regular surveys in almost all schools in the region to identify the most pressing problems of the youth. The collected information is analyzed by student volunteers and is used as a basis for the development and dissemination of educational materials on important issues. The latest brochures, Parents and school together and What should everyone know about drugs , are published in partnership with the School Dialog Center and Save the Children.
The Municipality of Blagoevgrad has the obligation to develop SEC s organizational structure and budget. The Municipality has provided the building and is covering operating expenditures. Staff salaries are financed by the Ministry of Education and project costs are funded by sponsorships, donations, etc.
Results
So far, approximately 1,000 children have sought and have received specialized assistance. Indirectly, SEC is working with all 14,000 students within the city.
The children can use SEC s sports facilities for free.
There is a functioning shelter for abandoned children, single mothers with children or youth who have left their homes.
There is a Diagnostics Office that works closely with informal organizations dealing with at risk children.
There are also a classroom and a discussion room.
So far, approximately 1,000 children have sought and have received specialized assistance. Indirectly, SEC is working with all 14,000 students within the city.
The children can use SEC s sports facilities for free.
There is a functioning shelter for abandoned children, single mothers with children or youth who have left their homes.
There is a Diagnostics Office that works closely with informal organizations dealing with at risk children.
There are also a classroom and a discussion room.
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