Transcript South East Europe Consultation “Reform of the Child Care System” Support of Deinstitutionalization Process at Local Level Diana Vakarelska, Programme Officer Social Policy.

South East Europe Consultation “Reform of the Child Care System”
Support of Deinstitutionalization
Process at Local Level
Diana Vakarelska, Programme Officer Social Policy and Planning,
UNICEF Bulgaria, 5 July
Content
• Situation of children in
Bulgaria.
• Challenges for the child
care system.
• The Response.
• Technical Support Unit:
objective, tasks, structure
and plan of action.
Situation of Children in Bulgaria
• Population increase: - 5.4/1000
• Birth rate (2005): 9.2/1000
• Non-marital births have reached 49% of total live
births, a two -fold increase since 1995 (NSI);
• IMR: 10.4/1000; highest among minority populated areas: 30/1000
• CMR: 13.5/1000
• 8 653 children in institutions (end 2006): 2,197
are in the institutions for 0-3 of which children
aged 0-3; 2,894 newly placed (SACP)
Poverty Levels by Population Groups
31.5
35.0
30.0
25.1
25.0
17.8
20.0
%
14.2
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Poverty rate - Total
Poverty rate - 0-15 age group
Poverty rate amongst single Poverty amongst children from
parent households
multi-member households
Source: Social Inclusion Memorandum Report. Leaken Indicators of Monetary
Poverty.
Rate of children in infant homes - Bulgaria
Source: MONNEE Database, IRC
Regional Disparities
Total and own revenues of selected municipalities for 2005
(leva per capita)
168
Dolna Mitropolia
35
23
206
Brusartzi
165
Ruen
18
Sadovo
132
47
Slivnitza
144
44
190
Radnevo
Sofia - Capital
171
Neasebar
168
83
129
752
595
Byala - Varna
504
449
Primorsko
0
200
825
400
600
Central Budget Transfers
Source: Public Expenditure Survey, UNICEF, 2006
800
Local Revenue
1000
1200
1400
Source: National Human Development Report, UNDP, 2006
Source: National Human Development Report, UNDP, 2006
Challenges for the child care system
• Horizontal coordination of policies between
sectors;
• Strategies on decentralization still unclear;
• Uneven local government capacity for
strategic planning, budgeting and program
implementation;
• Program budgeting at its conception - Child
related programmes not supported by clear
budget lines both at national and regional
level;
Challenges for the child care system (2)
• Substantial regional disparities in public
expenditure levels;
• Insufficient data on children and families for
better policy choices;
• Lack of sound monitoring and evaluation
practices;
• Poverty amongst children and families with
children is still not given enough attention.
The Response
• Integrated approach in
addressing policy objectives will
support the more effective and
efficient use of resources
• Implementation of studies and
researches with the objective to:
- establish the baseline situation
of children;
- select a set of key indicators for
monitoring child development
and welfare;
- support the elaboration of
informed policy decisions;
The Response (2)
• Better strategic
planning accompanied
by clear budget lines
will enable achievement
of specific results for
children.
• Capacity building at
local level to support
the delivery of child
focused strategies and
action plans.
Technical Support Unit
Main objective:
To support the process of social inclusion
through the development of an effective system
of community base social services with the
objective of prevention of abandonment and
deinstitutionalization.
Technical Support Unit
Key tasks:
1.Assist local governments in preparing and
implementation of effective deinstitutionalization plans
with main focus on the planning and development of
alternative services.
2. Work with specialized institutions for the elaboration of
institutional plans for transforming the institutions into
providers of alternative services for children and families.
3. Strengthen capacity of local stakeholders in planning
and absorption of Structural Funds.
4. Recommend policy and normative changes in support of
scaling up good models and achieving results for
children.
Technical Support Unit
Structure and Functioning:
• Established within the structure if the Agency for
Social Assistance.
• Partnership model - managed by a Consultative
Committee made of representatives of ASA,
SACP , NAMRB and UNICEF.
• Three key staff supported by a number of
experts.
Technical Support Unit
Plan of Action: National Level
• 28 Regional trainings targeting local governments, local
NGOs and staff of institutions.
• Functional Analysis and Assessment of Child Protection
Department Capacity.
• Rapid assessment of the situation in the institutions for
children deprived of parental care.
• Development of Minimum package of services and service
standards.
• E-map of services.
Technical Support Unit
Plan of Action: Regional level
• Selections of pilot regions – Vidin and Pernik.
• Placemen analysis of children in 6 institutions (450 children).
• Elaboration of local plans for community based services with the
participation of local governments, NGOs and the specialized
institutions.
- needs assessment
- transformation of institutions
- budgeting
- plans for the development of HR
• Foster care model.
Thank you!