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Description
The key problem is the violation of social and human rights of mothers and pregnant women with addiction due to gender-specific stigma and discrimination which occurs as a result to inadequate social support from public services and lack of cooperation between relevant stakeholders. Reto Center aims at helping pregnant women with addiction by promoting interventions that protect the best interests of the child and respect maternal rights through cross-sectoral cooperation with relevant stakeholders. This project will enable Reto Centre to strengthen its internal capacities to be more efficient in the implementation of the work program.
The key project activities are: i. quantitative research, ii. education and consultancy, iii. public campaign, iv. encouraging and involving young people from helping professions in volunteering, v. strengthening and capacity building of the organization. The applicant will ensure adequate implementation of the project and the achievement of targeted results. The partner will transfer experience and knowledge on integrative treatment in Norway. Special emphasis in the project is placed on wide and effective dissemination of scientific data regarding benefits of integrative treatment and its multiplier effect in public and other policies with significant potential for transferability to other local communities. Having in mind the lack of strategic governance of social policy regarding women in the risk of addiction, we believe that the implementation of the proposed project will have a significant impact on achieving long-term positive social changes in the selected priority program area.
Summary of project results
The project "Promotion and advocacy of an integrated drug addiction treatment program of mothers and pregnant women in communion with their children" aimed to address the discriminatory practices surrounding custody rights for pregnant women and mothers who require long-term addiction treatment. These women, either seeking or already in rehabilitation programs, often face the loss of custody of their children. Addiction and drug use became the primary factor in child custody decisions, rooted in the stigma that women struggling with addiction cannot be good mothers. This create a deeper issue where mothers deny their addiction and avoid treatment out of fear of losing their children, while pregnant women skipped regular medical check-ups due to stigma and the risk of losing custody.
The project focused on combating the violation of social and human rights of these mothers and pregnant women. It sought to tackle gender-specific stigma and discrimination caused by inadequate social support from public services and a lack of cooperation among key stakeholders.
The project focused on enhancing support for mothers recovering from addiction by promoting new treatment approaches and fostering dialogue between stakeholders responsible for social policies. Its goal was to strengthen connections between civil society and active citizenship, especially for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and mothers dealing with addiction, while advocating for human rights and the right to family life.
A major activity was a quantitative study examining the effects of integrative treatment, which allowed mothers to remain with their children during recovery. The study involved 120 participants: 60 adults and 60 children. Half of the children stayed with their mothers, while the other half were placed in institutional care. Using specialized behavioral checklists and personality assessments, the research confirmed that integrative treatment significantly reduced emotional and behavioral problems in children. These findings became the foundation for further advocacy for this method.
The preliminary results of the research were shared at a roundtable in Zagreb, gathering experts from health, social services, and the judiciary. This event helped raise awareness of the benefits of integrative treatment and fostered cooperation among various systems caring for women and mothers with addiction issues. Discussions also explored the roles and responsibilities of institutions involved in supporting these vulnerable groups.
The project published a handbook for pregnant women and mothers with addiction issues, which proposed improved treatment methods and offered guidance to professionals in health, social, legal, and therapeutic fields. Two workshops were held in Split and Zagreb, where experts shared insights on providing appropriate support to women and families affected by addiction.
In addition, the project strengthened the internal capacity of the organization through educational programs and bilateral cooperation with a Norwegian partner. As a result, organizational capacities and the sustainability of the civil society sector improved. Employees of the Reto Center took part in financial and business consulting training, which improved their management skills. This training helped them understand financial management basics, enabling better handling of the organization’s financial resources and the establishment of sustainable funding models. They also learned how to apply for European, national, regional, and local grants, which enhanced the organization’s financial sustainability, independence, and fundraising abilities.
A study trip to Norway facilitated the sharing of knowledge and best practices between the project team and the more experienced international partner, "Reto for hap." During the trip, participants gained insights into Norway’s model for preventing child-mother separation, innovative social services for children and families at risk of addiction, and programs promoting volunteerism and social entrepreneurship.
The cooperation with the Norwegian partner led to the professionalization of the organization’s services, improved marketing activities, and strengthened international social collaboration. Employees also became familiar with Norwegian laws on child custody for mothers undergoing addiction treatment, gender-specific treatments for pregnant women and mothers, and rehabilitation approaches that keep mothers and children together. During the visit, the project team met with Norwegian social workers from Child Protective Services (CPS) to exchange experiences and compare the structures of social services in Croatia and Norway.
Furthermore, Norwegian experts from "Reto for hap" shared knowledge on social entrepreneurship and organizational self-sustainability through work-based rehabilitation programs, which supported the project''s broader goals of enhancing support for vulnerable mothers and families.
The project significantly enhanced dialogue between professionals and decision-makers from various sectors, focusing on finding multidisciplinary solutions for pregnant women and mothers facing addiction. As a result, Croatia now has its first scientific research highlighting the need for changes in the traditional fragmented system, which often leads to mothers losing custody due to long-term addiction treatment. This research was published in the journal of the Study Center for Social Work, advocating for integrated treatment without loss of parental rights.
Mothers and pregnant women recovering from addiction experienced fairer treatment approaches that preserved their family lives. The interdisciplinary cooperation across health, social, and criminal justice sectors helped reduce human rights violations, leading to a more inclusive and supportive approach for these vulnerable women. Through these activities, the project promoted long-term change, advocating for policy shifts and improvements in social services in Croatia, ensuring better outcomes for mothers, children, and families.
For the first time, experts and decision-makers have access to a comprehensive handbook outlining the best practices for supporting families with addiction issues. The handbook, developed during the project, promotes equal parenting rights. Additionally, the project generated the first scientific results from a quantitative study, which were presented to professionals from the health, social, legal, and academic sectors. These findings promote the introduction of flexible services that allow mothers to continue treatment without being separated from their children.
The project’s impact extended to 18 prominent experts who participated in educational events in Split and Zagreb, advocating for reduced stigma and discrimination against mothers with addiction issues. Through their insights, ten key conclusions were developed, supporting the rights of mothers to maintain custody of their children, access to long-term treatment, and family life protection. Peer support during individual counseling sessions helped build trust among mothers who were previously wary of official services. This counseling led to greater personal responsibility and advocacy for their rights, supported by legal and psychological guidance.
The public campaign "Give Me a Chance to Stay a Mom" produced a short documentary, "Stay a Mom," which shared one mother''s experience of a non-oppressive approach by social services in Croatia. The project also engaged students of social work through hands-on problem-solving workshops, increasing their social awareness and volunteer engagement with vulnerable groups. Six students signed volunteer contracts, contributing to the organization’s capacity and helping develop future social workers.
The project''s broader dissemination of information also raised awareness in Norway’s child protection institutions. Organizational skills and social entrepreneurship were strengthened through collaboration with the Norwegian partner "Reto for hap" and the support of the business training provider, improving financial independence and resource diversification of the organization.
Summary of bilateral results
The project significantly benefited from having Reto for hap, a Norwegian organization, as its donor project partner. Through this partnership, the project team received valuable knowledge on how to advocate for non-discriminatory policies for pregnant women and mothers requiring long-term addiction treatment. Reto for hap provided insights into protecting human rights and organizing public campaigns to support these vulnerable groups. Additionally, their extensive experience in volunteer engagement helped the project improve its approach to training and managing volunteers.At the bilateral level, the partnership strengthened cooperation between Croatia and Norway. It offered the Croatian team practical examples of how Norway handles the rehabilitation of mothers without separating them from their children. The exchange of knowledge on human rights advocacy, volunteer management, and social entrepreneurship proved essential. This collaboration has resulted in three Croatian volunteers from the Center for Women, Mothers, and Children preparing to travel to Norway to learn directly from the Norwegian model of integrative rehabilitation.Plans for continuing bilateral cooperation include further exchanges of expertise between the Croatian team and their Norwegian counterparts. The upcoming volunteer visits to Norway are expected to strengthen the partnership, as Croatian volunteers will gain firsthand experience of Norway’s rehabilitation model. The ongoing collaboration will focus on enhancing social entrepreneurship and volunteer management practices, with the intention of adapting and applying the successful Norwegian approaches to the Croatian context in the future.