Hope and Homes for ChildrenWorking group 3 – family support services

HHC – international NGO based in UK. Working in 12 countries in Europe and Africa

Focus in Europe – deinstitutionalisation. Working with local authorities to transform large children’s home and replace them with family-based services

Hope and Homes for Children

In BiH since 1994

Transforming institutions Developing family based services Supporting young adults leaving

institutional care

Hope and Homes for Children BiH

First institution to be transformed in BiH

Institution in Zenica for 60 children aged 0-18

HHC working in partnership with local authorities in Zenica

The institution will be closed by March 2008

TRANSFORMATION OF INSTITUTIONS

Development of family based services – based on needs assessment:

Prevention

Reintegration

Fostering

Young adult support

Small family home

Staff of institution move to new services HHC provides capital investment + technical

support (expertise, training, monitoring) Local authorities provide running costs and own

the services

TRANSFORMATION OF INSTITUTIONS

REINTEGRATION

Biological family – starting principle

Involves a child moving from an institution or foster family or any out-of-family placement to live with biological family

It may involve return to family or first time to live together

It is a complex process requiring careful preparation, support and follow up. Involves working closely with child and family

REINTEGRATION

In BiH the legal decision to return a child to his/her family lies with CSW but non-statutory agencies can play important role in working with children and families on preparation and follow up

STAGES IN REINTEGRATION

STAGE 1 – ASSESSMENT through: Visiting and talking to the child and family Talking to the relevant professionals Reading the children’s files

assess the following: Reasons for separation:

- Understanding the circumstances that led to separation is key to successful reintegration

Current situation of the child and family in the following areas:

1.living conditions

2.family and social relationships

3.social behaviour

4.physical and mental health

5.education

6.household economy

Wishes of the child and the family

STAGE 1

QUESTIONS TO BE CONSIDEREDduring the assessment stage

Why the separation? Has the child been separated from its family

previous to this placement? If so, where? With whom was the child living immediately

prior to the separation? How long has the child been in the current

placement? How far is the child's present placement from its

home? The quality of relationships between the child

and family members before the separation? Is the child in regular contact with family

members?

FINAL DECISION for reintegration should involve all relevant parties including child and family.

A CARE PLAN should be made and regularly reviewed throughout the period of preparation, reintegration and follow up.

preparation

Involve children and families in the planning process Organise visits in the current placement Organise weekend visits to the family home Set a date for the return Acknowledge openly that everyone will be anxious (including professionals)

STAGE 2

STAGE 2

Note: although children want to go home there will be things they find difficult to leave behind e.g. friends, school, city life, carers.

If the reintegration involves multiple changes, especially for an older child, then the preparation will take longer. It is important to keep some connections, if possible, e.g. with friends

preparation

return There will be tears

There are likely to be some mixed emotions in the background

It is a good idea to have a small celebration

Everyone needs time to settle

STAGE 3

“Honeymoon” period There is likely to be a period when everyone

is on best behaviour

Children will be more helpful, parents will be more easy-going and generous with their time, brothers and sisters will be unusually pleasant to each other

It will not stay this way forever and it is important not to withdraw support at this stage

STAGE 4

crisis This is almost inevitable and will take the form of an

argument or conflict

It is important that everyone understands this is a normal part of the process

It is usually triggered by something quite trivial

The explosion will usually bring to surface much deeper problems to do with the pain of being separated

It is important to provide professional support through this stage and to help family members to express and work through painful emotions and issues in a constructive way

STAGE 5

resolution

The crisis has the effect of clearing the air and, if resolved constructively, may enable the family to move on to building a sustainable way of living together

STAGE 6

living together

Be prepared to support the family through the anxieties and conflicts that are part of the reintegration process

Continue supporting the family until they have reached stability and have a support network

STAGE 7

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION

Relationships in the family are reasonably good

The problems that made the separation necessary are considered to have been at least partially resolved

The family considers itself a “family” The child assumes a role within the family at

each stage of reintegration

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION

The child has a personal territory or item (e.g. room, bed, toy) in the family home throughout preparation and reintegration process

The care plan is “inclusive” in that the family plays an active role in the decision making throughout the reintegration process

The child’s family is prepared for the anxiety generated by the return and the disputes that are likely to occur

There is network of support (local community, CSW, school, NGOs etc.)

Challenges in BiH context:

Poverty, unemployment Lack of capacity and resources of centres

for social work (CSWs) to support and follow up families

Lack of flexibility for CSWs to use money previously used to support child in institution/foster family to support families during reintegration

“tradition” in institutionalisation (institutions are “easy”)