Social and Legal Protection of the Child in the Context of Shared Care After Divorce Elena Ondrušková Research centre and Department of Social Work Faculty of Education, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia Conference, Vilnius, 2013

Tarptautinė mokslinė praktinė konferencija „Socialinio ugdymo(si) teorija ir praktika: tendencijos, iššūkiai ir galimybės“ /15 Projektas „Socialinių pedagogų sėkmės akademija“

Divorce process– CHILD protection, support and help Divorce process ProtectionSupport Counseling or therapy

protection, support, counselling  Family court  all procedures during divorce process should be undergo in the best interests of the child (and protection of wellbeing of the child)  adjudgements related to custody after divorce, divorce decree (joint legal, joint physical custody, visitation schedule)  parental agreement  Child´s Guardian  Child´s Guardian (State Body „SPO“)  the protection of the minor child during the process of divorce is ensured by the institute of a guardian „in collision“  can affect the post-divorce situation by ordering specific social and legal measures: programmes, counselling

child guardian : the state administration body SLP  assessment of family situation, relationship between parent and child  situation according housing and family social situation, incomes  supervise arrangements of parental post-divorce custody agreement  if the opinion of the child is finding out during, the Body should provide the adequate help, or service to the child to facilitate the process of interview  it should be led in environment or place suitable for child´s needs  provides social counseling to parents or child  or mediates support or help in special professional institutions or healthcare centres

support of professional intervention to child at divorce  social or psychological counseling  group counseling or therapy aimed: support adaptation to divorce changes, to cope with divorce emotions  accredited bodies: NGO,  public institutions,  ( church: pastoral counseling )

NGOs and realization of „measures“ – interventions  according with § 10, 11 „Act to social-law protection and social curacy“ (n.305, 2005) :  social and psychological programs for children of divorce  work with the parents, where the violence is confirmed  finding out the opinion of the child  assessment of family situation  social guidance or counseling  they need to be accredited (by Ministry WSAaF) for the professional activities, measures or services

NGO´s focus on social work with child and family  Unicef Slovakia ( „ Hope “, „ Smile as a gift “...)  helpline/ hotline for children  programs for children and families  assessment of family situation  meeting with parent under supervision  finding out the opinion of the child, interview with the child in special occasion

adjudgements on sharing child´s custody after a divorce Mother %Father %Joint Ph. Cust. % January89,687,38,27,92,14,8 February9084,87,49,92,65,3 March88,886,77,47,63,85,8 April8787,79,27,83,84,5 May84,787,29,97,85,45 June87,284,98,59,14,45,9 July86,586,78,67,64,95,6 August86,784,89,310,44,14,8 September87,885,48,37,946,7 October8683,59,510,94,55,6 November86,9858,17,55,17,5 December86,187,98,77,15,25,1 court orders related to custody in the years 2011 and 2012 by months

qualitative preliminary research „child of divorce“ risk prevention during divorce process  participants : 10 social workers= guardians, 9 women, 1 man, all working in (capital) Bratislava,  research objectives: 1. ? child risk prevention factors (during divorce process) 2. ? opportunities for reducing risky factors  data collection method  semi-structural interview  data analysis method:  category analysis

legal socio-psychological psychological economical categories from data processing:

qualitative analysis: risk prevention categories „legal factors“:  category of „legal factors“: parental agreement, divorce settlement agreement, professional support, „the child´s best interest“ „socio-psychological factors“:  category of „socio-psychological factors“: parental marital relationships, sibling relationships, parental communication, relatives, professional support „psychological factors“:  category of „psychological factors“: child resiliency, vulnerability, personal characteristics, professional support „economical factors“:  category of „economical factors“: income of each parent, financial security

Research conclusions for practice „legal“socio-psychological factors  social workers considered „legal“ and socio-psychological factors significant for reducing risk of „child divorce“  „legal“ : improving the methods for negotiating „parental agreement“ child as a subject  supporting the child as a subject of the law in SLP procedures (to inform the child, give as much as possible needed information directly to child, to enable participation at counselling or supporting programmes)  socio-psychological factors: cooperative parenting programmes  parental coping and divorce adaptation support = enhancing child´s resiliency- cooperative parenting programmes  child´s coping and adaptation support – counselling (group or individual) programmes for children of divorce,

thank you for attention