CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM REFORM – CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM REFORM – MASTER PLAN ON TRANSFORMATION OF MASTER PLAN ON TRANSFORMATION OF

RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONSRESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

Cabinet of Ministers Republic of Azerbaijan

Second Child Protection ForumBishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

12-14 May 2009

Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan Family Code Law on the Rights of the Child Law on Targeted Social Assistance Law on Social Allowances

LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

STATE BODIES AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population

Ministry of Health

Other ministries within their competencies (MoI, MoJ, MoF);

State Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs

STATE BODIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

1. ExComs:- Commission on Minors - Guardianship Authority

2. Education Department :- Inspector on child protection in schools- Medico-psycho-pedagogical commission

3. Centre of Social Protection of population: Department on Targeted Social Assistance

4. Police department: Department on preventive work with juveniles Отдел

5. Representation of the ExCom at the community level

State programmes

«Educational Development of Children with limited capacities (Inclusive Education)»

«Early Childhood development and upbringing Programme»

«State Programme on Development of creative skills of gifted children/youth»

«Development of the vocational education» «State Programme on De-Institutionalization or

Alternative Care»

State Programme on De-Institutionalization or Alternative Care

According to the Action Plan of the Programme Ministry of Education is the responsible body for its implementation and coordination.

With the aim of implementation, the special Working

Group was established under the Ministry of Education

Objectives of the Programme Main goals of the programme in line with the CRC: Needs of children to grown up in family like

environment and harmonized development of individual child

Establishment of the mechanisms on reunification of children with families (biological and alternative), creation of alternative services for them

Guarantee effective enforcement of these mechanisms

Objectives of the Programme 2 Ensure preventive measures to prevent placement of the

child in residential institutions Downsize number of institutions by transforming type of

these institutions to the family-type social centers Broaden reunification of children (biological and

alternative families) and establish stimulation mechanisms

Re-qualification of the staff in institutions and establish training/education system to prepare new professionals (social worker, psychologist, speech therapist and etc.)

Asses the situation of children in residential institutions and carry out regular monitoring aimed in reunification as well as monitor situation of children in “new” families

Improve and strengthen legislative framework.

Objectives of the Programme 3 Provide targeted financial aid Involve currently functioning staff’s experience in

developing capacities of the social workers

Carry out regular preventive measures among children and families at risk

Take actions for awareness raising among general population with support of mass-media

Identify priorities on re-unification of children Promote close cooperation between government,

civil society and international organisations

Assessment methodology 8 different modules (questionnaires) were developed.

I moduleI module – General information about institution– General information about institution II II modulemodule – – Children living in residential institutionChildren living in residential institution III III modulemodule – – Personnel Personnel IV IV modulemodule – – Infrastructure of the institution Infrastructure of the institution V V modulemodule – – Services offered by the institutionServices offered by the institutionVI VI module module – – Expenses of the institutionExpenses of the institution VII VII modulemodule – – TransportationTransportationVIII VIII modulemodule – – Infrastructure of the communityInfrastructure of the community

Assessment methodology 2

Manual for assessment and special training for the group involved in the assignment.

Pre-test of each module Assessment done according to the planed schedule

All institutions are under supervision of the 3 governmental bodies:

50 institutions under MoE 3 boarding schools for orphans; 24 general educational boarding schools; 6 orphanages; 12 boarding schools for children with special needs; 2 specialized boarding schools for boys with difficult

behaviour; 3 boarding schools – sanatoriums.

Outcomes of the assessment

Outcomes of the assessment 2

3 institutions under MoH 2 baby homes; 1 orphanage for children with neurological

diseases.

2 institutions under MoLSPP Boarding schools for children with severe

physical and mental disabilities.

Outcomes of the assessment 3

14.389 children in 55 institutions. 4.055 out of which are children staying in institutions over night. Rest – 10.334 are spending night in their families.

Children studying in institutions

Children living in

institutions 28%

Only studying72%

Total number of children 14389Living in institutions - 4055Only studying -10334

Frequency of visiting families

317

1012

544

1486

294402

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

each weekends sometimes never

Girls

Boys

7

Each weekends - 1329

Sometimes - 2030

Never 696

Data on children living in institutions

Have both parents -2434Have 1 parent -1142Don’t have parents - 80Abandoned or deprived of parental care -399

Abandened or deprived of

parental care 10%

Do not have parents

2%

Have both parents

60%

Have 1 parent28%

Reasons of placement (%)

28.2

24.2

20.6

19.6

10.2

8.3

7.6

5.2

5.1

4.5

3.6

2

1.3

0.3

0.2

30.1

47.1

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Financial difficulties

need in special education

1 parent

Bad housing conditions

Divorced parents

Unemployed parents

Father's death

No place of residence

Severe disease of the child

Deprived of parental care

Severe disease of parents

Mother's death

Parents deprived of liberties

Deprived of both parents and only guardian

Parents are out of country

Child exposed to violence and exploitation in a family

Drug/alchogol abuse of parents

Age of children

37 37 58 48

1060

449

1379

454

263

110 10357

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

0-3 лет 4-6 лет 7-11 age 12-16 age 17-18 age over-18

boysgirls

Basic criterias for development and implementation of the Master Plan

Basic groups factors:

- Infrastructure around institution;

- Infrastructure of institution;

- Quality of services in institutions

Other criterias

- Number of children living in institutions;

- Number of children from the same district where institution is situated;

- Number of placed and leaved children during the year;

- Type of institution.

Type of institution Period

Short term 3 years 5 years and more

Orphanages   

1 6

General type of boarding schools 11 8 5

Boarding schools for orphanage and children deprived of parental care

  

1 3

Boarding schools for children with physical and mental disabilities

  

  4

Boarding schools for children with physical disabilities

  

4 1

Boarding schools for children with speech difficulties

  

1 1

Boarding schools - sanatoriums   

  3

Special boarding schools for boys with difficult behaviour

  

2  

Baby homes   

2  

Boarding houses for children with severe disabilities

  

  2

Master Plan on Transformation Role of the Master Plan (1)

Master Plan is main instructive document in implementation of the State Programme on De-Institutionalization and Alternative Care.

Main role of the Master Plan is planning further tasks for changes in institutions, identification of factors and activities.

Abovementioned tasks should be part of annual plan of the institution and regularly updated.

Role of the Master Plan (2)

Concerned ministries and agencies are responsible for providing services for vulnerable children and families

They are responsible for ensuring each child with necessary social services

Target group of the Plan are children in institutions

Expected outcomes

Children and families in need of special care have to be

provided by social assistance;

Current staff should be a main force in transformation of

institutions and establishment of alternatives services;

Development of alternative services Improvement of adoption and guardianship systems; Support to extended families and guardian families; Development of foster services:

- Recruitment;

- Selection;

- Training and monitoring.

Development of alternative services 2

- Housing provision for children that do not have parents and graduated from institutions;

- Housing provision for children that do not have parents and have medium and severe mental disabilities and other services.

Necessary actions Moratorium on creation of new institutions except new

type of services (family type homes);

Transform institutions where children are not staying over night to secondary schools with day care services;

Ensure establishment of day care centers within or close to institution.

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention!!