Child Protection System
Why is this project needed?
Over the past 14 years, dramatic political and socio-economic changes in Albania have increased the vulnerability of children to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. As in many transition countries, the emphasis on macroeconomic reform has led to the deterioration of social services while at the same time drastic demographic shifts have weakened traditional community based protection networks. Furthermore, new pressures on vulnerable families, including growing socio-economic exclusion, limit their capacity to provide a protective nurturing environment for children. The result has been an increase in the numbers of children affected by violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect, and a decrease in the capacity of individual families, communities and State structures to respond.
No comprehensive Child Protection System, per se, currently exists in Albania. Rather, existing protection structures are limited and piece meal in nature, and coordinated mechanisms for identification, assessment, referral and provision of appropriate support services are limited if at all existent. While increasingly, the Albanian government is recognizing child protection as an issue, it is still a relatively new concept and key sectors of Social Services, Education, Health, Justice, and Public Order, have yet to articulate their specific role and responsibilities with regards to protecting children and families. Direct services for children and families at risk are primarily delivered by the civil society sector, and local government structures have had limited involvement
Who will benefit?
• 1000 Children affected by violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect;
• 120 local authorities and social service professionals
• Communities from 6 municipalities
Who are the partners?
• Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, State Social Services, Municipalities of Tirana, Kukes, Gjirokastra, Elbasan, Korca, Pogradec, Fier
• Terre des Hommes, VMA Kukes,
What are the expected results?
• Children at risk are identified & provided with appropriate/specialized services.
• Local protection structures are in place and effectively manage a coordinated response to child protection.
• Professionals have increased knowledge & skills to address the specialized protection needs.
• Stakeholders improve cross-sectoral collaboration through institutionalized referral mechanisms.
• Communities have increased awareness and knowledge about how to protect children and where to turn for support.
• A good model for community based protection is recognized and replicated nation-wide.
How will the project work?
As part of its broader objective of strengthening the national child and family protection system in Albania, UNICEF is proposing to strengthen the recently established municipal-level Child and Family Protection Units in the interest of establishing permanent structures for child protection at the municipal level. The Child Protection Units have three main functions:
I. To assess and monitor the situation of children and families at risk,
II. To coordinate local level protection referral and response, and
III. To conduct identification and multi-disciplinary case management of the most urgent cases.
The Child Protection Units (CPUs) are based within the administrative structure of local social services. Two full time staff work at the CPU and are responsible, along with a multi-disciplinary team, for following up on individual cases of vulnerable children and families. This includes children affected by violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect, and those children from extremely marginalized communities. The CPU staff participate in weekly multi-disciplinary case management meetings and chair monthly coordination meetings with a broader group of stakeholders where more difficult cases are discussed. The CPU serves as a drop in centre – where children and families can come to find more information or get referrals to other support services. Free psychosocial counseling is provided at the office, as well as individually in people’s homes, during regular home visits which are conducted on a weekly basis. All services are free, and targeted to the most vulnerable children and families.
