Keeping Disadvantaged and Disabled Children with their Families, Azerbaijan

Keeping Disadvantaged and Disabled Children with their Families, Azerbaijan 3-year program implemented by United Aid for Azerbaijan and EveryChild GOAL Vulnerable and disabled children, and their families, have access to a variety of community-based social services with the emphasis placed on family support rather than institutionalised care. Outcome 1: Increase in the number of children living with their families, either because they have been reunited, or because they are not placed in institutions in the first place TRAINING ACTIVITIES On-going training of child development staff at each institution – methods of rehabilitation and SNE Train new social workers in gate-keeping procedures Develop practical processes with social workers and institution staff for gate-keeping work Train local authorities/ML&SP in gate-keeping/referral procedures Practical Work – Reunification UAFA/institution staff Mapping family locations of all children in each institution Contacting families where possible Writing care plans for each child Performing family assessments where possible Assessing children/families with possibility for reunification (minimum 10% in first year) Visiting each community to assess scope for community-based support Re-integrating children to their families Follow-up on re-integration process Practical work – prevention UAFA/institution staff Develop procedures for gate-keeping at each institution Set up Family Support room/area for consultation with families Implement referral structure between community-based services and other rehabilitative institution Follow-up on prevention cases Practical work – alternative care services UAFA/institution staff Develop conditions and procedures for rehabilitation, day-care and respite services (alternative care services) Develop individual child development plans for all children in alternative care services Implement local awareness campaign on role of each institution as provider of alternative care services Sustainability & Accountability Revise legislation governing institutions to reflect new services Explore opportunity for introducing transparent cost-recovery scheme Ensure State budget reflects costs of new services/necessary staff positions Add training programs (social work/rehabilitation) to curriculum at Re-Training Institute Develop Child Protection Council to oversee case management and Child Protection issues Motivation Short-term: Bonuses for staff involved in providing alternative care services Study tours to foreign country Long-term: Better services for families leads to increase in demand for alternative care