Deinstitutionalisation
In 2004-2006 HHC undertook some important exploratory work which would contribute to the transformation of the state system of care through the creation of family and community based alternatives for the care and protection of children who cannot be cared for in their birth families. Project activity took place in three pilot Oblasts – Kyiv, Khmelnytskyy and Kherson where the histories and needs of children in specific institutions were examined in detail.
The purpose of this exploration was to consider how institutional care might have been avoided for these children if comprehensive family support systems been in place, and what would need to happen now to make it possible for each child to be cared for in their own or an alternative family or community based setting.
The work was funded extensively by UNICEF and brought together professional staff for various disciplines with HHC and local authority staff.
Project work led by HHC included
- analysis of all structures and departments of Rayon state administrations (local authority), which have responsibility for child protection in Kyiv Oblast with a view to identifying ways of avoiding duplication of effort and roles, and to improving cooperation between local authorities
- contribution to a changes in the legislation of Ukraine through a project ‘On ensuring of organisational and legal circumstances for social protection of orphan-children and children deprived of parental care’. This work was adopted 13 January 2005
- assessment of the physical and psychological state, and the social skills of 215 children in the three state institutions identified for the study, and the production of individual care plans for each child which included, wherever possible the child’s biological family network
- family based care for 47 children
- seminars on current family care in Ukraine which were attended by 70 Heads of Rayon state administrations and Chiefs of services for children (Khmelnytsk, and Kherson Oblasts) and 38 Heads of village councils (Makariv rayon, Kyiv Oblasts), 22 media representatives, 35 prospective foster parents. In addition 20 specialists received necessary training on work with children in their social environment
- in 2006, HHC began planning for the development and implementation of a model for achieving the closure of institutional care in Ukraine. This model recognizes the developmental damage experienced by children who grow up in institutions and provides for support to keep families together and to create family and community based alternatives for the care and protection of children who cannot be cared for in their birth families.
In 2007-2008, one of the main areas of work will be developing and implementing a model for achieving the closure of institution in Makariv Rayon.
The model is based on successful HHC work in other countries, and takes account of extensive research over many years which shows that children who grow up in institutions suffer significant developmental delays and other disadvantages which make it difficult for them to achieve fulfilling and rewarding lives as independent adults.
The model provides ideas and a framework for developing support services which can help vulnerable families to grow stronger and stay together, or to be reunited. The model also provides for the development of family and community based care alternative for children for whom being in their birth families is not an option.
Bringing all these elements of support for children and families together will make it possible to close an institution in Makariv.
Project Activities
Working in close with local authorities and the personnel of the institution HHC is aiming to:
- prevent, whenever possible and in the child’s best interests, the separation of children from their birth families
- reunite children already separated with their birth families
- achieve family based care for children who cannot remain with their birth families
- prepare young people leaving state care for independent lives as adults
- explore possibilities for very short term assessment and care arrangements for small numbers of children in circumstances where they cannot remain at home but careful planning is needed to ensure appropriate longer term care and protection
- create family and community based alternatives for the care and protection of children from families in acute or chronic crisis, and recruit prospective foster parents, adopters.
Long-term goals
The project activity is an important development for children and young people in Ukraine. It is the first project which aims to implement the deinstitutionalisation model in full and will require real cooperation and commitment from everyone involved.
The overall goals are to
- develop mechanisms for deinstitutionalisation in Ukraine including draft legislative instruments which, if adopted, would lead to the transformation of existing care and protection arrangements which take account of the needs of children and young people throughout childhood
- share methodologies and experience from the project work with relevant State bodies with a view to widespread transformation care, protection and support for children and families
- secure public support for changes in national policy which make the needs children have for family based care and protection the number one objective.
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The first family type children’s home is opened in Makariv rayon
Agreement on cooperation between Rayon State Administration, Service for Children of Oblast State Administration, Department for Family, Children and Youth of Oblast State Administration and Hope and Homes for Children in Ukraine
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