SOnDiR (Parental and Child Care Systems) Construction Unit Self-government model SOnDiR Poland 2007 – 2013 C. Zespół d/s SOnDiR

What is SOnDiR (Parental and Child Care Systems)? SOnDiR is a standardized cooperation system of all the institutions and people involved in jurisdiction, caring for, treating, educating, supervising and supporting children and families. Its main focus is: Prevention SOnDiR is working with every child and family to which it can provide help in preventing pathologies, exclusion, segregation as well as all other symptoms of a disturbed socialization process. Resocialization SOnDiR is working with every child and family with problems that hinder the healthy, satisfactory and beneficial social life of the family. The main goal of SOnDiR is solving the family’s problems and subsequent inclusion of the child and family into the society in the quickest and most cost effective whilst simultaneously preventing any harm.

What was the theory on which the model was based? 1.Self-government (county, district, cities, parishes) building a System (SOnDiR) adjusted to the local conditions and needs. 2.We are building a Care System above all the political classifications. exampleexample 3.We are working according to European standards (example) and benefiting from the broad support of competent sources. (example)(example)

How was this model created? 1.By analysing the social care systems in EEA countries. 2.By analysing existing projects designed to resolve the social problems in EEA countries, Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand as well as Polish programmes. 3.Through national and international discussions, meetings, conferences, (taking part as well as organizing) and being up to date with new findings in the field. 4.By organizing and assisting in the organization of media campaigns – with subsequent analysis of the effects. 5.By conducting surveys on professionals from various disciplines and on people from different social backgrounds who are connected to Parental and Child Care Systems. (SOnDiR) 6.By experimental implementation of various elements of the system in chosen districts: creation of Interdisciplinary Groups, communities of parents and children, support groups, implementing the ecological model of working with parents in OPS (Social Help Centre)/PCPR (Community Family Centre), educational parenting programmes designed to prevent increasing social problems, interactive systems based on internet and other sources. 7.By developing working standards for local authorities, care teams and institutions – then analysing their effect via consultations in the institutions and social care systems, establishments, NGO etc.

Building SOnDiR (Parental and Child Care Systems) The implementation of SOnDiR into already existing structures - considering their redevelopment and changes in legislation – would require enormous amounts of money and years of preparation. After analysing help programmes developed by some of the self- governments, the estimated cost of providing help to families most vulnerable to pathologies was 36 milliards Zloty in about 3 years period. The cost doesn’t take into account any preventative measures. We are therefore suggesting the implementation of SOnDiR (Parental and Child Care Systems) according to a net scheme where the backbone of the net would be selected self-government institutions (mainly PCPR - Community Family Centre­- and OPS - Social Help Centre) and most of the actions would involve so called ‘project work’. The work would be carried out by non-governmental organizations, work groups consisting of workers from self-government institutions –mainly based on EU sponsorship programmes and often based on cooperation with institutions and organizations from other countries. This type of System (SOnDiR) can be implemented immediately and the type of solution (integration with local strategies of solving the social problems) were successfully employed by introducing pilot schemes in (pilotage) districts and cities, thanks to the emerging Interdisciplinary Groups and to received donations.

Step by step we are building a Local SOnDiR (Parental and Child Care Systems) FIRST STEP Diagnosis of social problems SECOND STEP Development of parish/district strategy solving social problems THIRD STEP Development of programme/system of prevention methods within Parent and Child Care FOURTH STEP Establishment of Interdisciplinary Group Launching of specific programmes Legal basis Act of March 12th, 2004 on social services

4 CHILD... FAMILY Step by step we are building a Local SOnDiR (Parental and Child Care Systems) Necessary cooperation between various parties 1. Biological family,: relatives, friends, local community. Their participation and, shared responsibility for the child and the family’s lotwellbeing 2. Medical care, psychologists, pedagogues, Community Family Centres (PCPRs), Care & Adoption Centres (OAO). Professional diagnosis and where applicable, if needed – care. 3. Educational institutions and organizations. When if necessary – adjusting the conditions to the child’s needs without violating privacy and dignity. 4. Communal institutions and organizations – day rooms, clubs (including sports clubs), bonfires, after school clubs, and others- fun and beneficial organization of free time activities. 5. Social services. Services provided in accordance to Help adjusted to the needs of the individual. Monitoring of Supervision of volatile situations which may affect the individual or familyhazards not violating dignity. The coordination of services where situations require theirwork of other services in situations requiring their involvement. 6. Courts and groups of probation officers. Jurisdiction and inspection based on solid knowledge and familiarity with family’s problems. 7. Police and other services. Whenever possible – prevention. Making sure all laws are adhered to the law is obeyed. 8. Efficient and professional system of Family Foster Care focused on preparing the child to be independent without breaking the bond with their biological family. Whenever possible – going integration back into the family. C. Z. d/s SOnDiR 2007

SOnDiR’s Decalogue Early prevention of social problems starts in the surgery. A General Practitioner (whenever possible – gynaecologist) can in an easy and natural manner asses the knowledge of the parent, the type of the environment the child would be brought up in, any negligence, potential hazards for the pregnancy and for the development of the child. It is necessary to provide the GP with the right tools (mainly educational) and full access to the information about help and support available for women/families expecting a baby. 2. The maternity (ward) hospital cooperates with other services responsible for looking after the child and family. On the maternity ward many problems or situations may be exposed (e.g. addictions, mental illness and emotional problems) which indicate the possibility of future family issues. Help should already be available in hospitals, and it should support and ease doctors and medical staff. 3. The key to the correct functioning of the Parental and Child Care System after the birth of the child is prevention. The so-called ecological model should be used – work should involve the whole family and the social environment using methods which strengthen the family’s responsibility for the child and prevent from shifting the responsibility onto institutions (e.g. Family Conference Group or similar). 4. Where early prevention measures fail (points 1-3), the social environment and help institutions create temporary alternatives in case any inefficiency/ family pathology occurs. A wide range of daily care centres (such as common-rooms or after school clubs etc.), attractive group activities, extracurricular activities (sports, hobbies) and so on bring positive effects. All these activities should operate according to safety standards which prevent abuse. Activities of this type should also be combined with working with the parents, focusing on strengthening educational abilities or therapies (e.g. of addictions). 5. In the counties, cities or districts there is a coordinated cooperation between all the services responsible for the wellbeing of the child and family. It is worth appointing so-called ‘interdisciplinary groups’ (including: social services, courts and probation officers, health services, education, police, administration, church structures, counselling psychologist and mentors, nongovernmental organizations and others).

... SOnDiR’s Decalogue First, compulsory step in case of the necessity of taking the child away from its biological family is a comprehensive medical and psychological diagnosis of the child. The same diagnosis should be done every time the child is moved from one environment to another e.g. from orphanage to a foster home. Each new guardian has to have to possibility of looking into complete and reliable documentation of the child’s health problems (including emotional issues). The medical and psychological help should be unconditionally free of charge. 7. It is unacceptable to put the child into a foster family without exhausting the possibilities of working with the child’s biological family and it is unacceptable to put the child into an institution before exhausting all the possibilities of putting it into family foster care. In the case of changing the guardian (e.g. hazardous situations), the other environments of the child should be kept unchanged if possible (school, friends, GP etc.). 8. We are implementing a set of work standards for OPS (Social Help Centre)/PCPR (Community Family Centre) and R.O.Z (Family Foster Care). These standards should include, amongst others, permanent training in working with children and supervision for the workers as well as for R.O.Z (Family Foster Care). Foster families should receive support (including training) free of charge and the main training should be provided after the child is put into the foster family, not during the assessment phase. 9. Family Foster Care tries to fit it with the local demographics. The families should cooperate with each other, create support groups and exchange experiences. It will prevent the crises after taking a child into a family, the denial or concealing of problems and the emergence of taboo topics. This action should be financially and administratively supported by institutions which are a part of the interdisciplinary group. 10. Social services should provide support for the child during its process of regaining independance. Apart from existing financial support mechanisms, other forms of support should be developed – e.g. trainings, workshops for children about the regain of independence etc.

Key areas in the first phase of building SOnDiR 1.Work with the biological family using the ecological model eg. KGR method (Family Conference Group) and others. As a result- prevention of putting the child into foster care. EXAMPLE 2.Development and support system for the participants of ROZ (Family Foster Care). The essential elements are helping the foster parents to be more professional in their approach by providing support and information about possibilities of personal development as well as opportunities for more effective cooperation with existing professionals. EXAMPLE 3.Broad (supervised by professionals) social action regarding foster care supported by media- institutions and ROZ (Family Foster Care)- eg. Befriended families and other volunteers at children’s homes, formation of the foster families and adoptive families’ communities as well as others. EXAMPLE 4.Caring and working standards in organizations and institutions. 5.Development of interactive – based on internet-methods of support for the families and professionals. EXAMPLE

THANK YOU Zespół ds. SOnDiR 2007 Oprac. i tłum. Leszek Drozdowski, Izabela Przybytniak