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Addressing Systemic Gaps – Support to Child Welfare System Reforms

  • Project duration 43 months (October 2021 – April 2025)
  • Multi country project implemented by SOS Children’s Villages Albania, SOS Children’s Villages Armenia, SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine, SOS Children’s Villages Belarus, SOS Children’s Villages North Macedonia
  • In Albania the project locations are Tirana, Korça, Vlora, Shkodra
  • The goal is to support the relevant central and local stakeholders to shift from residential care services toward community-based care services for children, young people and vulnerable families, the project is in line with DE-I National Plan 2020-2022
  • The De-I project, is funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ)
The Global Program entitled “A Right to Family – De-Institutionalization to Reform Child Protection Systems in Albania, Armenia, Belarus, North Macedonia and Ukraine” aims to improve children’s rights with a specific focus on supporting the reform of alternative childcare systems and the deinstitutionalization process in 5 target countries: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, North Macedonia and Ukraine. All the activities included in this global program are planned with sustainability as a key principle. With its multi-level approach, the program aims to support central and local government in improving legal frameworks to ensure support, care and protection of children in need through the combinations of planned interventions and activities (individual support to vulnerable families and children as well as professionals, building support structures, and awareness raising. The positive social and economic impacts will extend far beyond the lifetime of the program. In Albania, a new policy, legal and institutional framework for the social and child protection system has been developed in recent years. This process included adoption of the new Law on Social Welfare Services (2016), Law on Children’s Rights and Protection (2017) as well the approval of National DE-Institutionalization plan 2020-2022 based on which also the project intervention were designed. The project target 4 main municipalities Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, Korҁa and aim those vulnerable children are supported in their individual cognitive, emotional and social development through high-quality prevention services, community-based care and deinstitutionalization efforts in line with the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children. The project contributes to several levels of interventions:

1. Macro level

Clear legal and operational frameworks for the provision of alternative care (foster care and youth services) and prevention services provide a framework for action tailored to the needs of vulnerable children and are aligned with the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.

2. Meso level

Albanian decision makers at local and national level, professionals and the wider public in Albania have been sensitized to the need for foster care for vulnerable children. Decision makers at local and national level have been equipped with methodological tools related to case management, evidence-based parenting programs and foster care. Furthermore, relevant professionals are educated and trained to use their capacity and expertise to provide quality support services for vulnerable children in line with children’s rights.

3. Micro leve

In 4 target communities, vulnerable children have access to innovative, high-quality community-based prevention and alternative care services

Direct target group:

  • 300 children who are at risk of losing parental care for various reasons: live in difficult circumstances/vulnerable families, have disabilities, impairments, behavioral disorders or have been reintegrated into biological families after placement in alternative care.
  • 232 parents / foster parents-parents in difficult life situation & prospective foster parents (incl. kinship parents). Vulnerable parents struggle with socio-economic challenges and exclusion for various reasons.
  • 75.000 inhabitants of Albania and 400 community members to be informed on the importance of foster care service.
  • 60 Stakeholders and professionals (public institutions, CSOs). Target municipalities and communities.
  • 15 decision makers on central and local government to exchange and contribute on further development of foster care services.
  • 210 frontline professionals including child protection co-workers, social workers from governmental and non-governmental organizations, case managers, professionals / experts from local government.
  • 10 journalists and media professionals from national and private mass and social media to promote the importance of foster care service and deinstitutionalization process.

Current results: All the planned activities are being carried out in close collaboration with central and local government in order to achieve the expected results.

– In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection a National Youth Care model is drafted aiming to target all the needed services for young people in alternative care including after care services.

– A national awareness raising campaign has been prepared and being implemented to sensitize the general population in regard foster care services.

– Study visit for 14 national and local policy makers was organized in May in Skopje- North Macedonia with the focus on foster care development.

– 2 evidence-based methodologies for parenting capacity building in place to be used by local structures in target municipalities.

– Capacity building activities have been provided for 176 local professionals in topics related to re-integration, parenting programs, and preparing for leaving care.

– 4 local workshops have been held in 4 target municipalities where 80 local stakeholders have increased awareness on foster care service.

– 3 community structures in Korça and Tirana Municipality are enriched and adapted into child friendly premises to provide quality support.

– 213 children supported with preventive services based on individual needs.

– 70 parents supported on parental capacity building programs

– 11 foster families identified and being supported to fulfill administrative procedures.

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