FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMME

An approach to prevent children from losing careof their families of origin

SOS Children's Villages InternationalWho were are

Child development is best realized in a caring family environment

Main programming working fields: 1. Prevention of children’s separation from their family

(CRC,Art.9)

Family Strengthening Programme, since 2003

2. Provision of alternative family-based care (CRC, Art. 20)

SOS Children’s Village, since 1949

Family Strengthening Programmes Principles

1. The best place for children to grow is within their family of origin

2. Care-givers are responsible for the development of their children

3. Communities are a direct source of support for children & their families

4. The goal of development is the realization of human rights

(Source: Family Strengthening Manual, 2007,SOS)

Overall goal + target group

GOAL Prevent that children lose parental care Support reunification after separation

TARGET GROUP Children who are at risk of losing parental care Children who already lost parental care but there

is potential that they can be reintegrated in their families of origin

Family Strengthening Programme Experiences from CEE/CIS/BALTICS

Statistics Currently, 59 FSPs in 20 countries

December 2009 9.889 children and 4.807 families benefiting from

FSPs 1.462 families became self-reliant

In 2016 Growth target: 90.000 children

Composition of the target groupCEE/CIS/Baltics

Children from families living in poverty;

Children living with single parents;

Children from large households (many children);

Children taken care by their grandparents/extended families;

Children from families affected by HIV/AIDS;

Pregnant single women or single women with newborn children.

Risk factors

Methods of identification

Referral from local child/social protection authorities;

Referral from community (health care providers, schools, kindergartens, community-based organizations, neighbors);

Referral from partner organization;

Self-referral of the beneficiaries;

Outreach activities.

Strengthening families: How we do it…

Ensuring children have access to essentialservices (e.g. educational, nutrition, legal, health &psycho-social support)

Strengthening support systems forvulnerable children & their families within the community (e.g. building networks, training, knowledgesharing)

Supporting families to build their capacity toprotect & care for their children (e.g. parental skills training, employment support,temporary shelter, legal support, financial and in-kind assistance)

After school support, Albania

Art therapy for parents, Romania

Service provider network, Armenia

Child Services Education

Family Services

Caregiver Social Services Health Legal Parental skills Nutrition Economic support Clothing Recreation Psychological Improvement

of living conditions

Link with specialist services

Cooperation with local authorities

CORE APPROACH Community-based and partnership-oriented

Family support services

Professional family support workers and volunteers

Case management approach Family Development Plan

Package of services

Core Approach

Specialised Services

Child and FamilyCounseling and Support Centre

After school programs

Mobile rural supportCrisis shelter for women and

their children

Work with communities

Strategies in strengthening communities

Public awareness raising activities

Mobilization of community members

Capacity building of community

Partnership building

Establishment of partnerships: Local administration/ social service department/child

protection bodies - identification of vulnerable families.

Educational/health institutions/labor offices - linked with care for children and services for parents.

NGOs supported similar target groups - complement to FSPs services.

Lesson's learnt from external evaluations

Right target group• Focus also on „invisible children“ not registered anywhere• Avoid being referred only the most difficult cases

Children: school performance, nutrition and living conditions; material and health status • Diversify services and be more child centred

(psychological, pedagogical, recreational activities, after-school programmes)

Care givers: family income, employment rates, family relations, positive change in parental role• More services for long term economic self-reliance, only

short term financial and in-kind assistant to avoid dependency

Quality criteria

Comprehensive family support; interventions for BOTH children and parents

Child centred approach; tailor services to needs Strength based approach empowering care givers Professional social work approach Home visiting Flexible response to local needs and priorities;

cooperation with local government Evidence based programming (self, external

evaluation)

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Thanks for your attention !