Partnership for every child charity foundation
Service of active family support in the Leningrad region
CSS contribution, rubles
Total budget, rubles
Implementation period, months
Project idea
The "Service of active family support in the Leningrad Region" project is a comprehensive program that combines emergency intervention in crisis situations, support for families in the process of coping, and the development of long-term strategies to strengthen social support for families in the region. The project is expected to significantly improve the quality of life of vulnerable families and their children, as well as reduce the number of cases of social orphanhood.
The primary goal is to prevent the removal of children aged 0 to 7 by social services or their voluntary placement into state care due to family crisis situations.
To accomplish these goals, an emergency intervention model will be implemented that includes:
- The work of a team of 4 social work specialists who will cooperate with guardianship and custody agencies and social service institutions.
- Identifying families in need of emergency assistance and accompanying them until the situation stabilizes.
- Implementing a model of short-term placement of children with professional families when temporary separation from parents is unavoidable.
- Conduct regular monitoring at the end of the active phase of work.
- Organization of a round table for the professional community to present the results of the project and discuss further expansion of the Service's work.
The project also aims to fill gaps in the social assistance system, reduce the risk of losing parental care for children and test innovative approaches in working with vulnerable families. This will be the first step in creating a system of services that will improve the prevention of child abandonment and support for families in need.
Relevance
The "Service of active family support in the Leningrad Region" project is aimed at solving the problem of social orphanhood, which is one of the most acute and painful in the region. Statistics show that the number of children without parental care increased by 4.7% in 2018 compared to 2017, reaching 552 children, of which 405 are social orphans with living parents. In addition, in 2018, there was a 64% increase in the number of cases where children were taken away from their parents because of a threat to their life or health.
In 2019, the number decreased to 493, but the number of parents deprived of parental rights and the number of children taken away because of threats to their life and health increased. This indicates that the problem remains relevant and requires new approaches to solution.
The importance of the project is supported by research that shows that early deprivation and psychological trauma can lead to serious impairments in child development. The project avoids these negative consequences by ensuring that children have the opportunity to grow and develop in a favorable environment.
The effectiveness of the approaches used in the project is confirmed by the experience of work in St. Petersburg, where 80-85% of families were able to overcome the crisis and keep their children in a safe family environment. This shows that the project has every chance of success in the Leningrad Region as well.
Social effect
Prevention of social orphanhood in the Leningrad Region.
KPI
KPI
Project Results
The "Service of active family support in the Leningrad Region" project has achieved significant results:
- Families participating in the program have conditions in place to ensure the safety of the children.
- Parents have learned to understand and meet the needs of their children.
- Families in difficult life circumstances received comprehensive support to overcome crisis situations, including social support, educational and legal counseling, material assistance, as well as child-parenting classes and psychological counseling.
- Young children placed in foster care found a safe family environment, which contributed to their positive developmental dynamics and prevention of psychological trauma associated with group care.
- A database of professional foster families willing to provide temporary care for children as an alternative to placement in an orphanage has been established.
- Project specialists improved their skills and knowledge.
- Two services in different areas of the Leningrad Region provided families with access to targeted intensive support.
Overall, the results of the "Service of active family support in the Leningrad Region" project demonstrate its important contribution to improving the quality of life of families and children by providing them with the necessary resources and support to overcome difficulties and create a stable and prosperous future. These achievements underscore the importance and effectiveness of an integrated approach to community-based social support.
Project progress after CSS funding
After the end of the main funding, the "Service of active family support in the Leningrad Region" project can continue its development at the expense of donations from Russian legal entities and individuals. The project will not be dependent on a single source of funding, which increases its financial sustainability and ability to adapt to changes in the economic environment.
