“Supported by a grant from Switzerland through the Reform Fund Linked to Civil Society Participation”
The project is implemented in partnership with ISS-Switzerland Foundation and ”Samaritans” association.
The project starts on 1 september 2013 and its duration is 24 months.
It is financed with 407521,36 BGL., 89,92% of them or 366 443,21 BGL are swiss financial contribution.
Project overall objectives
Support for the child care deinstitutionalization in the regions of Targovishte and Stara Zagora through augmentation of the effectiveness of the services that prevent placement of children in specialized institutions. The project will contribute for the achievement of the main objectives of TF CSP, by increasing the capacity of Bulgarian partners to: provide high quality social services; strengthen their ability to network; communicate with citizens; and mobilize civil support.
Project specific objectives
- Widening the scope, accessibility, and quality improvement of services for children under foster care and at crisis situation;
- Increasing the social and legal security of children and families in the decision making process by Directorates “Social Assistance” and the court;
- Increasing the capacity of Bulgarian partners to provide high quality services; to establish and maintain public-private partnerships;
- Information and dissemination of the project’s results
Project outputs
- Extended scope and accessibility, increased quality and effectiveness of foster care services in the Complexes for Social Services for children and families (CSSCF) in Targovishte and in Stara Zagora;
- Extended scope and accessibility, increased quality and effectiveness of crisis intervention services. A new ‘Crisis centre’ service with own staff and financial resources is set up in the CSSCF in Targovishte. Access and spectrum of services aiming at prevention of domestic violence in the Crisis centre in Stara Zagora is extended;
- The teams providing services have knowledge and skills for qualitative service provision;
- Increased capacity of different professionals to apply the principle of the best interest of the child in the decision-making process;
- Developed and tested package of programs for regular training of judges and social workers in view of child and family participation in judicial proceedings;
- Developed information materials for children that guarantee effective implementation of the children’s rights in judicial proceedings;
- Increased capacity and improved institutional sustainability of the Bulgarian partners and the other NGOs included in the project;
- Expanded partnerships and networking between teams of Bulgarian NGOs, between the Bulgarian and Swiss Partners, and improved interaction with the municipalities;
- Increased participation of the community in solving particular cases of children and families at risk; changed attitudes of the professional groups
Project activities
Activity 1. Management and coordination of the project
Activity 2. Setting up of foster care teams to Community Support Centres in the Complexes for social services in Targoviste and St. Zagora.
Activity 3. Upgrading of services provided at the "Emergency placement Centre” (EPC) in the Community Support Centres–Targovishte and establishment of a separate new service "Crisis centre for children victims of trafficking and violence”. Diversification and enlargement of the scope of the existing protection services in the Crisis Centre (CC) – St. Zagora for victims of violence - women and mothers with children.
Activity 4. Increasing the capacity of "Foster care" and "Crisis Centers" teams .
Activity 5. Increasing the capacity of social workers and judges to work with children and families involved in court proceedings.
Activity 6. Increasing the capacity of NGOs, providers of social services for children and families.
Activity 7. Development and implementation of information strategy.
