engleski

Deinstitutionalization of children with problems in behaviour

In Croatia, in accordance with the Law on Social Welfare, associations and religious organizations can be providers of social services that enter into a contract with the competent Ministry. In this way, they are included in the network of service providers and the realization of their quality standards of social services is monitored. According to the Plan for Deinstitutionalization and Transformation of Social Welfare Homes and Other Legal Entities Performing Social Welfare Activities in the Republic of Croatia (OG 36/2011), deinstitutionalization envisages that 40% of children and youth with behavioral problems placed in homes move to non-institutional accommodation. In Croatia, there are Centers for the provision of community services and Homes for the upbringing of children and youth. Of the total number of institutions, 14 are for children and youth without adequate parental care with 782 users and 11 for children and youth with behavioral problems with 1477 users. Only 30 children and youth with behavioral problems are placed in foster families, while there are no family homes for this user group. An example of good practice is the Social Therapeutic Community Breza, which aims to help children and young people aged 12 to 21 who lack adequate family support, and they have behavioral difficulties. The community is located about 20 kilometers from Osijek and provides services in three houses / properties, in a rural environment that has proven to be healthier for the establishment of new social relations and adjustment in the process of independence. Beneficiaries are accommodated through Social Welfare Centers from Croatia and Switzerland, and the accommodation capacity is 19 beneficiaries. The social-therapeutic community is the first in Croatia to be founded by a civil society organization specializing in working with young people with behavioral problems and is the only one to provide alternative accommodation to educational institutions. The association is the only one in Croatia that exports its social service, which ensures financial stability and quality of work, which would not be possible only with the agreed funds of the competent ministry. The Breza Association has existed since 2003 and had 51 beneficiaries from Croatia and 17 Swiss beneficiaries in the organized housing system. Young people placed in the community after the age of 18 most often remain in the community until the age of 21 in post-treatment where they are prepared for independent living. Associations that can or want to develop such social services in the community encounter a number of difficulties and limitations, although the goal of deinstitutionalization is precisely aimed, among other things, at this form of care. The fact that the Breza Association receives one to two requests from Croatian Social Welfare Centers per week with a request for accommodation of users also speaks of the need for this form of accommodation.

deinstitutionalization, behavioral problems, youth, foster care

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