Project PHARE 2005 (Contract 2005/017-353.01.02-1.01)

"De-institutionalization through community based services for risk groups". Center "Mother and Baby" for the prevention of abandonment."

Leading organization: ISS-Bulgaria in partnership with Vratza Municipality.

Objective: Support the de-institutionalization process and strengthen welfare for children from 0 to 3 years old in Vratza municipality, through integrated services aiming to prevent abandonment, neglect and placement in residential institutions.

The goal is to establish a "Mother and Baby" Center, delivering two main services: Mother and Baby Unit /MBU/ and Community work for the support of maternity and childhood, including Mobile services.

Target groups: Young children /0-3 years old/ at risk to be abandoned, neglected and put in institutions and their families

Final Beneficiaries: 1.Couples with new-born children at risk of abandonment and their mothers at Maternity ward; 2. Pregnant women at risk of abandoning their baby; 3. Mother-child couples in process of restoring family relations after reintegration, in cases, when the child has been placed in residential institution and the mother needs support to integrate her back in the family; 4. Children from 0 to 3 years old at risk of abandonment, neglect or violence and their families; 5.Professionals, working in "Mother and Baby" Centers; other professionals, who work on cases – doctors/general practitioners, nurses, social workers.

Expected results: 1.Developed and established system for internal monitoring of the project; 2.Established partnership with local State and Municipal structures, working in the field of child welfare. Formed Operational Partnership Group (OPG) and signed partnership agreements with SAD, RCHC; 3. Developed and implemented communication strategy; 4.Recruted and trained staff for the services, who receive regular consultations and supervision; 5. Completely renewed and equipped "Mother and Baby" Center ready to receive service recipients, providing all planned services according to the proposed methodology.

Recipients of the services: At least 50 cases of children at risk of abandonment and neglect identified at an early stage and referred to CP; Minimum of 6 pregnant women and couples mother-baby; Fifty 0 to 3 years old children and their families to receive support, direction and consulting for improving the conditions for growing and avoiding risk situations; Fifty parents of young children from risk groups to receive parental skills training; decreased percentage (by 20 %) of young children at risk, placed in residential institutions by CPD-Vratza compared to previous period; increased number (by 20%) of cases of prevented abandonment at maternity ward level; Increased percentage of the successfully closed cases (by 20%) compared to the previous period.

Financing: 107 940 EUR