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Integrated Approach towards Investing in

Children

Milena Harizanova

UNICEF Bulgaria

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CRC@25

General Comment 7 (2005) of the Committee of the Rights of the Child: Implementing child rights in early childhood

European Commission Recommendation Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage Principle: EU Member States should always take the child’s best interests as a primary consideration and recognise children as independent rights-holders, whilst fully acknowledging the importance of supporting families as primary carers

 

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POLICIES – ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES

Children living in poverty and material deprivations – a set of social benefits; issues of access and adequacy;

Access to health care – monitoring and follow up of pregnancies, early pregnancies, access to GP and specialists, mental health care;

Early identification of children with developmental problems – no well developed services and instruments for recognition and identification;

Early learning and education - no programmes for stimulation of learning after birth, including via parenting support programmes; high average enrollment rate in kindergartens for children 3-6, however significantly lower for vulnerable children

Support for parenting – insufficient programmes; Children with one or both parents abroad – difficulties in fulfillment of rights; Access to justice – difficulties in access to justice for children from vulnerable

groups, children in conflict with the law, children victims of violence and crime; Sectoral approach vs. integrated policies.

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APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – CENTRE FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Goal: improvement of primary health care for children below 3ys, pregnant women and mothers via provision of health services in the homes of the families

Target groups: pregnant women, mothers, newborns babies, children below 3ys, family members and supporting environment

Coverage: regional level – regions of Shumen and Sliven

Main activity: home visitations

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APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – CENTRE FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Results:

Shumen (April 2013 – June 2014):

-2535 families;

-Including - 361 pregnant women (156 of them without health insurance);

-8989 consultations;

-30% от families received intensive package of support.

Sliven (March - October 2014) :

- 1150 families

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APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS

Objective: to establish a sustainable model of support to parents of young children below 4 ys as well as to future parents

Universal programme

Provides a possibility to parents to share their experience, knowledge and concerns related to the up-bringing and communication with their young children, to expand their knowledge on child development and the psychological needs in early childhood.

Up to now:

-88 рarental groups;

-Over 800 participants;

-66 localities.

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APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – FAMILY

CENTRES

Provide support to the whole family in the context of the community;

Targets most vulnerable communities, families and children;

Flexible service responding to local needs - mapping;

Programme approach – early childhood development, family planning, social mediation;

Outreach services;

Regional approach (Shumen region) and inter-municipal cooperation.

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APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – FAMILY

CENTRESResults (2012 - 2014):

• Over 3200 families – assessed and included in different programmes;

• 105 cases of direct prevention of family separation (84 successful);

• 32 children re-integrated in their birth families;

• 152 children enrolled in kindergartens; 33 children returned to school;

• 491 pregnant women without health insurances supported to start monitoring of their pregnancies

• 587 women included in family planning programmes

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APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – CHILD MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE

RUSE Integrated health-social service for mentally disturbed children and adolescents and

their families – counselling, therapy, prevention of separation; Easy access for consultation; Multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment and individual treatment plan; Services:

Therapeutic care focused on child or adolescents – individual clinical therapeutic work and therapeutic workshop – a place for inventions;

Therapeutic care focused on parents – family therapy and workshop for parents – a place for sharing and learning;

Work focused on creation of professional network – multidisciplinary meeting – a place for encounter.

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