Project “Services in the Center (“Komplex”) for Social Services for Children and Families (CSSCF)” –Targovishte Municipality

Final part of the "Child welfare reform" Project of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, financed by the World Bank.

Duration: July 2005 – September 2006

Overall goal: Support families in taking care of their children; improve parental skills; prevent parents to abandon their children and place them in social institutions, while avoiding also other risk situations for children, such as antisocial deeds, dropping out of school, early pregnancy, etc. Specific objectives: 1. Promote public awareness on problems of children and families, through the involvement of local authorities in activities and services for children and their families; 2. Develop capacities of local partner organizations as providers of social services for children and families; 3. Transfer of knowledge, skills and experience to the personnel of the Center (Komplex) for social services; 4. Develop and test a model for the Komplex for social services management in the municipality of Targovishte in compliance with international documents on children's rights, and with international standards for service quality.

Types of services provided in CSSCF:

• "Mother and baby" Unit - Prevention of children' abandons and their placement in social institutions;
• Centre for Community support with Emergency placement centre: Prevention of antisocial deeds, working with children with antisocial deeds and their families; • Prevention of violence, working with children victims of violence and their families; • Prevention of dropping out of school, working with children who dropped out of school and their families. Day Care Centre for children at risk; • Reintegration of care leavers in the family environment; • Supporting care leavers, as well as young people at risk, aimed at successful social integration and professional realization. "Half way Apartments" for care leavers; • Training, preparation, consulting and support of candidates for foster families; • Services to support adoption; • Support and consult families. 
• Day care centre for children with disabilities

Results: By September 2006 there have been 95 cases referred to the Komplex. 72 were referred by the CPD. Since the beginning of the activities 289 children and families have been assisted. During the whole duration of the project, the total number of beneficiaries is 845. It includes children and professionals who participated in group works as well as those included in the violence prevention campaign.

ISS – Bulgaria was the leading organization of the consortium of NGOs, which implemented the action plan together with the Institute for Social Activities and Practices, the Club of NGOs – Targovishte, acting as partners.

Financed: by the Bulgarian State budget with 139 873 EUR