[:hr]Sustavna podrška obiteljima s djecom

Procjenjivanje i smanjivanje rizika za dobrobit djece

 

1. Zašto su nove usluge za obitelji u riziku važne?

Osnovni razlog za pokretanje programa je dokazana potreba za daljnjim unaprjeđenjem zaštite dobrobiti djece u obitelji čiji je razvoj i sigurnost u riziku. Program je u osnovi nastavak suradnje UNICEF-a, ministarstva nadležnog za socijalnu skrb i Društva za psihološku pomoć kroz projekt “Jačanje kapaciteta sustava socijalne skrbi za provođenje i praćenje mjera za zaštitu prava i dobrobiti djeteta u nadležnosti centra za socijalnu skrb”, koji se provodio od 2013. do 2015. godine, i zasniva se na zaključnim preporukama projekta.

Provedba prethodnog projekta potaknula je značajne promjene u sustavu zaštite dobrobiti djece, npr. liste za procjenu sigurnosti i liste za procjenu razvojnih rizika postale su jedan od osnovnih alata za procjenu u centrima za socijalnu skrb, sukladno Pravilniku o mjerama zaštite osobnih prava i dobrobiti djece. Ipak, kroz projekt su prepoznate prilike i potrebe za daljnjim unaprjeđenjem usluga unutar sustava socijalne skrbi kroz npr. djelotvornije planiranje i vođenje slučajeva, bolju pripremu voditelja mjera stručne pomoći,  standardizirano postupanje u slučajevima manipulacije djecom i koordinaciju  djelovanja među sustavima u radu s obiteljima ili članovima obitelji u kojima su djeca u razvojnom ili sigurnosnom riziku.

 

2. Kakvo je stanje na terenu?

Bez obzira na činjenicu da su međunarodna i nacionalna istraživanja pokazala kako je mentalno zdravlje roditelja u nekim slučajevima presudno za procjenu rizika i sigurnosti djeteta, postoji snažan stav stručnjaka za mentalno zdravlje da takve informacije ne bi smjele biti dostupne stručnjacima u sustavu socijalne skrb, osim ako to ne naloži sud. Ovakav stav se opravdava odredbama o zaštiti osobnih podataka pacijenata propisanih Zakonom o zaštiti osoba s duševnim smetnjama. Posljedično, stručnjaci centra za socijalnu skrb nisu u mogućnosti pružiti pravodobnu i sveobuhvatnu procjenu razine rizika kojem su djeca izložena u obiteljskom kontekstu ili su takve informacije dostupne sa značajnom kašnjenjem, tek kao dio sudskog postupka. Brojni tragični slučajevi pokazuju da takva praksa ugrožava sigurnost i dobrobit djece.

Stoga je izazov kreirati okvir suradnje koji će osigurati pravo djeteta na sigurnosti i cjeloviti razvoj, uz istodobno poštivanje prava njihovih roditelja kao pacijenata ako im je narušeno mentalno zdravlje. Takav okvir suradnje trebao bi počivati na najvišoj razini profesionalne odgovornosti i povjerljivosti svih koji su uključeni.

Također, temeljita analiza postojećih mjera za zaštitu sigurnosti i dobrobiti djece provedena kao prilog za izradu novog Obiteljskog zakona (ožujak 2017.), pokazala je da treba posvetiti dodatnu pozornost a) razvoju različitih vrsta planova za podršku roditeljima i b) zaštiti djece i praćenju procesa i ishoda provedbe mjera.

Dodatna potreba za programom proizlazi iz činjenice kako 25-35% mjera za zaštitu prava i dobrobiti djece izriče u slučaju roditeljske manipulacije djecom i otuđenjem od drugog roditelja, tijekom i nakon razvoda braka ili raskida partnerske zajednice. Stručnjaci za socijalnu skrb izražavaju potrebu za kratkim i praktičnim instrumentima koji će im pomoći u procjeni i praćenju takvih slučajeva.

 

3. Što ćemo postići?

Programom ćemo postići konkretne ciljeve:

1. Smanjiti radno opterećenje i teret socijalnim radnicima razvojem novih efikasnih alata i mehanizama za procjenu rizika i provođenje mjera za zaštitu sigurnosti i dobrobiti djece.
2. Bolje povezati stručnjake različitih sektora kako bi se osigurao pravovremeni, efikasni i održivi pristup obiteljima i djeci u riziku.

U skladu s navedenim ciljevima, program je fokusiran na postizanje tri glavna učinka:

1. Razvijena standardizirana metodologija i alati za učinkovito pružanje usluga i podrške obiteljima u riziku.

U okviru programa razvit će se standardizirana metodologija i instrumentarij za procjenu rizika u obitelji, te četiri alata za planiranje, praćenje i izvještavanje. Razvit će se i dva instrumenta za psihologe u centrima za socijalnu skrb. Također, razvit će se standardizirani edukativni program za provoditelje mjera za zaštitu dobrobiti djeteta, koji će se provoditi u okviru sustava socijalne skrbi.

2. Unaprijeđeno znanje i vještine socijalnih radnika u pružanju učinkovite usluge u radu s obiteljima u riziku.

Kroz edukativne programe educirat će se približno 900 stručnjaka:

• 525 socijalnih radnika će povećati znanje i vještine za upravljanje slučajevima, međusektorsku suradnju, te za korištenje razvijenih alata u socijalnoj skrbi.
• 390 provoditelja mjera za zaštitu dobrobiti djeteta će povećati znanja i vještine za pružanje učinkovitih mjera obiteljima u riziku.

3. Jači kapaciteti stručnjaka i donositelja odluka u sustavu socijalne skrbi, pravosuđu, obrazovanju i zdravstvu za međusektorsku suradnju u procjeni rizika djece u obitelji

Kako bi se ojačala međusektorska suradnja, provest će se posebno razvijeni edukativni program za 60 pravnih stručnjaka, 175 edukatora, 175 patronažnih sestara te 55 donositelja odluka, koji će povećati znanja i vještine za međusektorsku suradnju.

Također, u okviru programa razvit će se i protokol o međusektorskoj suradnji te pripadajući priručnik.

Očekivani učinci programa u skladu su s ciljevima i mjerama  Nacionalne strategije za prava djece u Republici Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od 2014. do 2020.

 

4. Kako ćemo to postići?

Za provedbu programa bit će zaduženo Društvo za psihološku pomoć.

Ključni partner u provedbi programa je i Hrvatska udruga socijalnih radnika koja će biti aktivno uključena u planiranje i pristup korisnicima programa.

U planiranje, pripremu i provedbu programa će biti uključeni brojni stručnjaci iz vladinih i nevladinih organizacija (Ministarstvo zdravstva, Ministarstvo znanosti i obrazovanja, Agencija za odgoj i obrazovanje, Poliklinika za zaštitu djece i mladih Grada Zagreba, Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapče, Pravni fakultet – Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Hrvatska udruga medicinskih sestara i dr.).

Navedene ciljeve programa postići ćemo:

• Razvojem posebnih edukativnih programa koji će se provesti kroz seminare i radionice.
• Razvojem standardizirane metodologije, alata i instrumenata za socijalne radnike i druge stručnjake na terenu.
• Razvojem protokola o međusektorskoj suradnji i pripadajućim priručnikom.

U razvoj edukativnih programa, alata i instrumenata aktivno će biti uključeni stručnjaci iz različitih sektora i iz različitih partnerskih institucija.

Posebna pažnja bit će posvećena rodno specifičnim potrebama krajnjih korisnika – očeva i majki, dječaka i djevojčica u riziku. Svi razvijeni materijali jasno će zagovarati rodnu jednakost i brisanje rodnih stereotipa i predrasuda. Program će uključiti teme koje se bave specifičnim ulogama majki i očeva u skrbi za djecu te preporukama stručnjacima o jednakoj uključenosti majki i očeva u procjenu rizika i provedbu mjera u obitelji.

Razumijevanje potreba najranjivijih obitelji bit će posebno uzeto u obzir prilikom razvoja instrumenata i edukativnih programa, kao što su specifičnosti pojedinih skupina roditelja (npr. samohranih roditelja, roditelja pripadnika romske nacionalne manjine, roditelja djece s poteškoćama u razvoju, roditelja s duševnih smetnjama itd.).

Poseban fokus usmjerit će se na prepoznavanje i zadovoljenje potreba ranjivih obitelji koje se suočavaju s teškoćama zbog siromaštva, izloženosti nasilju, imigracije ili drugih teškoća, s ciljem pružanja kulturno osjetljive usluge.

 

5. Tko su korisnici ovog programa?

Ukupno će programom izravno biti obuhvaćeno približno 1.400 neposrednih korisnika (socijalnih radnika, edukatora, pravnih stručnjaka, donositelja odluka…).

Dodatno, program će indirektno imati pozitivan učinak i na brojne obitelji, stručnjake i studente:

• Više od 2.000 obitelji u riziku te više od 4.000 djece godišnje će imati indirektne koristi od programa kroz sustav socijalne skrbi.
• Više od 800 patronažnih sestara, školskih pedagoga i psihologa u tri godine provedbe programa.
• 500 obitelji u riziku s novorođenom djecom godišnje, kroz usluge patronažnih sestara (približno 10% obitelji s novorođenom djecom).
• 000 osnovnoškolske djece u riziku godišnje kroz školski sustav (približno 5% djece uključene u osnovnoškolsko obrazovanje).
• 500 predškolske djece godišnje (približno 5% sve djece uključene u predškolski odgoj).
• 150 studenata socijalnog rada i sestrinstva godišnje.

 

6. Što nakon završetka programa?

Ovim programom nastojimo razviti i provesti dugoročne sustavne promjene. Stoga je jedan od glavnih zadataka programa razviti mehanizme koji će osigurati održivost dobrih praksi i nakon njegovog završetka. Razvoj ovih mehanizama zajednička je odgovornost Ministarstva demografije, obitelji, mladih i socijalne politike, UNICEF-a, Hrvatske udruge socijalnih radnika (HUSR) i Društva za psihološku pomoć kao provedbenog partnera. Aktivno sudjelovanje Ministarstva u svim fazama planiranja i provedbe te predanost u ostvarenju ciljeva programa je osnovni preduvjet za osiguranje održivosti.

U praksi, održivost programa osigurat će se kroz:

1. Rad Koordinacijskog odbora, zajednički osnovanog od Ministarstva, UNICEF-a, HUSR-a s ciljem koordinacije aktivnosti i definiranja mehanizama dugoročne održivosti ishoda programa u okviru sustava socijalne skrbi.
2. Mehanizme održivosti, definirane sporazumom o suradnji između Ministarstva i UNICEF-a, s naglaskom na obveze Ministarstva:
   1. Osigurati uvjete za održivost i kontinuiranu provedbu svih aktivnosti, mjera, alata, protokola, usluga i modela razvijenih u okviru zajedničke suradnje kroz nadležnu zakonsku regulativu, odluke i smjernice ustanovama socijalne skrbi.
   2. Osigurati održivost i kontinuiranu dostupnost planiranih edukativnih programa razvijenih u okviru zajedničke suradnje kroz planove stručnog usavršavanja koje organizira Ministarstvo.
   3. Uključiti predstavnike Ministarstva u djelovanje Koordinacijskog odbora, odgovornog za financiranje, budžetiranje i ugovaranje pružatelja usluga kako bi se pravovremeno osigurala sredstva potrebna za dugoročnu provedbu planiranih aktivnosti.
3. Aktivno sudjelovanje predstavnika Ministarstva u planiranju i definiranju ciljeva programa te praćenja provedbe i evaluacije postignutih rezultata.
4. Razvoj protokola o međusektorskoj suradnji.
5. Ponovnu aktivaciju Vijeća za djecu Republike Hrvatske s ciljem jačanja međusektorske suradnje.
6. Aktivno sudjelovanje zaposlenika sustava socijalne skrbi i drugih srodnih područja.
7. Integraciju rezultata programa u redovni akademski kurikulum studija socijalnog rada na preddiplomskom, diplomskom i doktorskom studiju.

 

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 Services for families at risk

Assessment and mitigation of risks for wellbeing of children

 

1.    Why are new services for families at risk important?

The main reason for starting this programme is proven need of further improvement of the protection of the well-being of children whose development and safety is at risk in families. This programme is a continuation of the collaboration of UNICEF and the ministry in charge of social welfare during the previous project “Capacity building of the social welfare system for the implementation and monitoring of the measure for the protection of the rights and welfare of children under the jurisdiction of centre for social care”, which has been conducted since 2013. until 2015., and is based on its final recommendations.

Implementation of the previous project facilitated considerable changes in the system of protection of the well-being of children, e.g. the check-lists for assessing safety and the child’s developmental risks that became an official part of the “Rules of procedures regarding the measures for protection of the rights and welfare of children under the jurisdiction of centre for social welfare” and they are now in use as a major assessments tools. However, opportunities and need for further improvement of services of social care system has been recognised through project (e.g. more efficient planning and case management, better preparation of family outreach workers, standardised procedure in cases of children manipulation and coordination of activities among different sectors in their work with families or dependants in which there are children at developmental or safety risk.

 

2.    What is the situation in the field?

Regardless of the fact that international and national surveys showed that mental health status of parents in some cases is crucial for assessment of child’s risk and safety, there is a strong attitude of mental health professionals that such information should not be made available to social welfare professionals unless ordered by the court. This is justified by the protection of private information envisioned by the Law on Protection of Persons with Mental Disorders. Consequently, CSW professionals are not able to provide timely and comprehensive assessment of the level of risk children may be exposed to in the family context, or such information are available with significant delay as a part of the court procedure.  Finally, numerous tragic cases from the practice illustrate that such practice is endangering the safety and wellbeing of the children.

Therefore, the challenge is to develop the framework that will both ensure the rights of the children to safety and healthy development and at the same time respect the rights of their parents if they are mental health patients, based on handling information with the highest level of professional responsibility.

As well, the in-depth analysis of the measures for protection of safety and wellbeing of children that was done as a contribution to the Family Law in preparation (March 2017), showed that additional attention should be devoted to: a) development of different types of plans for supporting parents and protection of children and b) monitoring the process and outcomes of implementation of the measures.

Another reason for the current programme is that the date show that 25%-35% of the measures for protection of the rights and wellbeing of children are issued in cases of parental manipulation with children and their alienation from the other parent, typically during and after the divorce. The social welfare professionals repeatedly express the need for short, practical and valid tools that will help them assess and monitor such cases.

 

3.    “What” this programme will achieve?

The practical aim of this programme is to:

1. Decrease the work overload and burden of CSW child care professionals by providing efficient tools and procedures for assessment of risks and implementation of the measures for protection of safety and wellbeing of children.
2. Strengthen the professional networks among different sectors in order to secure timely, efficient, balanced and sustainable approach to families and children at risk in the family.

In accordance with main goals, programme is focused on achieving three main effects:

1. Standardised methodology and tools developed/improved and available for effective provision of interventions and support to families at risk.

Within the programme there will be developed standardised methodology and instruments for family risk assessment and four tools for planning, monitoring and reporting. There will be developed two instruments for psychologists in CSW. Also, there will be developed standardised training programme for outreach workers available within social welfare system.

2. Social welfare professionals/case workers and family outreach workers have increased knowledge and skills on case management and provision of effective interventions in working with families at risk.

Through training program there will be educated approximately 900 social welfare professionals:

• 525 social welfare professionals will increase knowledge and skills for case management, inter-sector cooperation, and implementation of social welfare instruments and tools.
• 390 of family outreach workers will increase knowledge and skills on providing effective interventions to families at risk.

3. Increased capacities of professionals and decision makers in social welfare, judicial, educational and child health care for inter-sector cooperation in the assessment of risks for children in a family and interventions aiming at securing children wellbeing.

To strengthen inter-sector cooperation, specifically developed training program will be delivered to 60 judical professionals, 175 educational professionals, 175 home visiting nurses and 55 decision makers, which will increase knowledge and skills for inter-sector cooperation.

Also, within the program there will be developed Protocol and manual on inter-sector cooperation.

Expected program outcomes are directly linked to the National Strategy for Child Rights 2014-2020 of the Republic of Croatia.

 

4.    “How” will we achieve it?

The Society for Psychological Assistance (SPA) is responsible for programme implementation.

The key collaborative organization is the Croatian Association of Social Workers who will actively support planning of activities and access to beneficiaries in the social services. Other involved partners include numerous individual experts and government and non-governmental organizations who will be approached to assist as needed in programme planning, support preparation and delivery of activities (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Education, Croatian Education and Teacher Training Agency, Polyclinic for Protection of Child and Youth of the City of Zagreb/ Child and Youth Protection Centre of the City of Zagreb, Psychiatric Clinic Vrapče, Faculty of Law, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation, Department for Social Pedagogy, Croatian nurses association – Society of Field Visiting nurses etc.).

The aims of the programme will be achieved by:

• Development of specific training programs that will be delivered through seminars and workshops.
• Development of standardised methodology, tools, and instruments for social welfare professionals and other professionals in the field.
• Development of protocol and manual on inter-sector cooperation.

Professionals from different sectors and from different partner institutions will be included in development of training programs, tools and instruments.

In all training materials the special focus will be given to the gender specific needs of end users – fathers and mother, boys and girls at risk. All materials will clearly advocate gender equality and reduction of gender related prejudice and serotypes. The programme will include topics that deal with the specifics and unique roles of mothers and fathers in child care, and recommendations for experts on the equal involvement of mothers and fathers in the risk assessment and in the implementation of interventions in the family.

In the development of instruments and the training programme the understanding and adequate response to the needs of the most vulnerable families will be taken into account, such as the specificities of particular groups of parents (e.g. work with single parent families, parents of the Roma minority, parents of children with disabilities, parents with mental illness etc.).

The special focus will also be on recognition and meeting the needs of vulnerable families that are facing disadvantages due to poverty, exposure to violence, immigrant status or any other adversity in order to provide culturally sensitive and empowering services.

 

5.    Who are beneficiaries of this programme?

Within this programme, there will be 1400 direct beneficiaries in total (social services professionals, education service providers, judiciary workers, opinion and decision makers…).

Additionally, programme will have an indirect positive effect on numerous families, professionals and students:

• More than 2.000 families at risk and more than 4.000 children per year will have indirect benefits from programme through social welfare system.
• More than 800 home visiting nurses, school pedagogues, and psychologists in three year period.
• 500 families at risk with new-borns per year, through home visiting nurses services (approximately 10% of families with new-born children).
• 000 elementary school children at risk through the school system per year (approximately 5% of all children enrolled in elementary school).
• 500 preschool children per year (approximately 5% of all children enrolled in formal preschool education programmes).
• 150 social work students and 150 nursing college students per year.

 

6.    What happens after the program ends?

With this programme we are trying to develop and deliver long-term system changes. Therefore, one of main tasks of the programme is to develop mechanisms which will ensure sustainability of good practices even after it ends. Development of the sustainability mechanisms of the programme outcomes is a joint responsibility of MDFYSP, UNICEF, CASW and implementing partners.

Intensive participation of MDFYSP in all phases of the programme planning and delivery and its commitment to implementation of the outcomes is a key strategy to ensure sustainability.

In practice, sustainability of the programme will be achieved by following activities:

1. Through the Coordination Board jointly established by the MDFYSP, UNICEF, CASW and all implementing partners with the primary goal to coordinate activities and defining sustainability mechanisms within social care system.
2. Sustainability mechanisms being defined within the Memorandum of Understanding between MDFYSP and UNICEF, specifically stating the responsibility of the MDFYSP to:
   1. Ensure conditions for sustainability and consistent implementation of all initiatives, interventions, tools, protocols, services, models developed within the framework of joint cooperation through relevant regulations, decisions and/or instructions to social welfare institutions etc.
   2. Ensure the sustainability and continued availability of planned education programs developed within the framework of joint cooperation – through professional training programs provided by the Ministry.
   3. Include representatives from MDFYSP in the operation of the Coordinating Committee, responsible for finance, budgeting and contracting with service providers, in order to adequately plan sources of funding for the purpose of securing sustainability of planned services and their long-term quality and efficiency.
3. Active partnership and participation of the representatives of MDFYSP from the planning phase and defining programme goals and outputs, monitoring program implementation, to final evaluation of the outcomes.
4. Development of the Protocol on inter-sector cooperation.
5. Reestablishing Council for Children of the Republic of Croatia (CFC) in order to mobilize additional support for enhancing sectorial inter-collaboration.
6. Active involvement of employees of the social welfare system and other related sectors.
7. Integrating the program achievements/outcomes into the regular academic program of social work education at BA, MA and PhD levels, as a part of the regular curricula.

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