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PREVENTION OF THE ABANDONMENT OF NEWBORN BABIES
In 2002 HHC Ukraine started a project to prevent the abandonment of newborn babies. Each year 2000 newborn babies are abandoned by their mothers. The reasons for abandonment range from the absence of social support to unstable relationships with families or partners, or simply poverty – many mothers do not want to leave their babies but can see no alternative.
The first Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Ukraine, created by Hope and Homes for Children, opened in October 2003 in Kherson city.
Project goal
The aim was to prevent the abandonment of babies in Maternity Hospitals and the separation of these children from their natural families.
The MBU provides mothers with short-term support and guidance in a residential setting where they have time and encouragement to bond with their babies. They also have the opportunity to learn parenting skills, and to finish their education or gain employment. All this helps to equip them for an independent family life.
In April 2006, Kyiv regional state administration, in cooperation with Hope and Homes for Children, created a second Mother and Baby Unit.
In both Units social workers, nurses, psychologists and other specialists provide support and guidance which includes
• counselling to overcome postnatal crisis
• parenting and life skill classes
• assistance with finding a job or finishing education
• mediation with families to help mend damaged relationship.
HHC experience in this work is being spread throughout Ukraine by the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports and in 2006 other MBUs were established by local authorities of Sumy and Drohobych and another Mother and Baby Unit was created in Chernigiv due to financial support of Every Child in Ukraine. Further work will lead to additional Units in Crimea and Khmelnytsk Oblast.
During 2006, 19 mothers with their babies and three women in the later stages of pregnancy were helped at Kherson MBU. By the end of 2006, 15 mothers had left the Unit with their babies having arranged housing for themselves, other returning to their biological families or repairing or making new relationships to form family units. Two other women were graduating from vocational and training schools.
Between April 2006 and March 2007,11 mothers and their babies were helped at Fastiv Mother and Baby Unit (Kyiv Oblast). During that time 2 women have reached the stage of moving on with their babies to an independent life.
HHC Ukraine plans to:
• provide training packages for staff of the Units and for regional social workers
• organise a training course for trainers
• analyse and make recommendations for changes to the current legislative framework.
The main project goals will be reached through:
1. development of the methodologies and techniques for successful prevention of babies abandonment in Maternity Hospitals, MBUs
2. production and publication of a practical manual for specialists staff who work with expectant mothers and new mothers and their babies
3. preparing regional trainers to promote the skills and expertise needed by social workers and other maternity home staff to identify mothers who may be at risk of abandoning their babies and provide guidance and practical help to avoid such separation
4. training for specialists from mother and baby units and social workers at consultative stations
5. the provision of technical support to newly created mother and baby units
6. development and publication of an educational brochure on prevention of newborn babies abandonment for distribution at maternity hospitals and homes, day clinics and other places where women may seek help.
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