On 30th and 31st October 2024 two meetings took place in Sofia and Plovdiv within a current research framework on the reasons for separation between children and their families conducted by the Know-How Center for Alternative Care for Children at New Bulgarian University, Equilibrium Association, SOS Children's Villages – Bulgaria, For Our Children Foundation, Tulip Foundation, International Social Service and Hope and Homes for Children – Bulgaria.
The meetings were held in hybrid format – on-site and online – to ensure greater access and participation for all relevant stakeholders.
Participants in the meetings were social workers from community support centres and various residential services for children. The presenters Mariana Taseva – Executive Director of For Our Children Foundation and Boryana Klimentova – Programme Director at Hope and Homes for Children – Bulgaria created a space where participants had the opportunity to share their experiences, offer ideas, talk about best practices and suggestions for changing the current regulations and policies.
Attendees were divided into groups to debate the main highlights of the study:
1. Reasons leading to separation of children at risk from their families;
2. Separation as a protection measure;
3. Attitudes of professionals towards separation and its prevention;
4. Recommendations.
Many recommendations and guidelines were given for the improvement of prevention and support work for children and families. To a large extent, the data presented in the study were confirmed by the professionals working in social services in both cities. They agreed that the conversation aimed at preventing unnecessary separation should continue. After hearing participants' perspectives, the presenters shared research data from the organizations in the Childhood 2025 Coalition.
Official publication on the findings and recommendations from the study, which will include the feedback from the meetings held with social workers, will follow.
