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Description
The project will contribute to increasing the quality of services offered to children from vulnerable groups (over 100,000 children benefiting from services to prevent the separation of children from parents and children from alternative care) by improving the way the case management method is used in the field of child protection. Investing in social infrastructure is important, but equally important is the way in which professionals address the needs of children, how they involve parents and children in this process, as well as inter-institutional and cross-sectoral collaboration. It is known and accepted that the case management method is the most appropriate to address the needs of children in an integrated, participatory and individualized way. Unfortunately, however, after 14 years since the introduction of this method in Romania, case management became rather a form without substance. Thus, through the project will revitalize the case management method by consulting vulnerable groups, by comparing the analysis of examples from 5 EU / EEA countries, developing and promoting new mandatory minimum standards and by training a number of 60 professionals - supporters of changes proposed by the project. Approx 700 representatives of vulnerable groups and 170 professionals will be involved or will benefit from the project activities. Being a project with activities for consulting vulnerable groups, advocacy, training, standards development, the implementation of the project is done by 4 NGOs complementary expertise: SOS Children''s Village Romania, with experience in project implementation and use of case management method, CLNR with experience in carrying out studies/ research and elaborating public policies, FONPC with experience in carrying out advocacy and information and promotion campaigns, and SOS CV Norway with experience in project management and networking.
Summary of project results
The purpose of the project was to enhance the quality of services offered to vulnerable children, primarily by reevaluating the case management approach in child protection.
To achieve the goal, the project team undertook several activities. Firstly, they analyzed pertinent documents, including the legislative framework, and consulted with 76 children and young people, 48 parents, and 30 case managers, in order to create a policy brief on case management in child protection. A team of eight experts subsequently developed recommendations to improve case management standards.
The project team also documented case management examples from Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Scotland. They held eight regional meetings attended by a total of 151 representatives from GDSACPs, local authorities, School Inspectorates, Public Health Directorates, and NGOs.
All project materials, including examples from other countries, proposals for improving standards, implementation guides, infographics, course materials, and translated practice guides, were made available to the NAPCRA and professionals.
The project team introduced the developed standards to the top management of the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of the Child and Adoption (NAPCRA). The standards were then disseminated to all General Directorates of Social Assistance and Child Protection (GDSACPs) throughout the country, as well as to numerous local authorities. Feedback was obtained, and during the final event of the project, stakeholders applied pressure on NAPCRA to implement the proposed changes to the case management method.
Additionally, there were four training sessions organised for 74 case managers from GDSACPs and NGOs, who in turn offered better services to 630 children.
Summary of bilateral results
The collaboration with the Donor State partner, SOS Children''s Villages Norway, was very good throughout the duration of the project and improved the knowledge and mutual understanding between the two entities involved. The partner was mainly involved in the implementation of the activity 4, ”Analysis of case management examples in other EEA and EU countries”, where they provided the details related to the legislative framework in Norway and facilitated the relationship with colleagues in Finland and Austria. They also responded promptly to all the requests from the Project Promoter regarding various topics. The contact person, Kjersti Movold, participated in the bilateral workshop organized by CSDF on 14.06.2021, had several status meetings with the project manager and also attended a meeting in Oslo with the CSDF representative, Ioana Florea. The project promoter appreciates that the bilateral collaboration generated broader interest in the project from the stakeholders.