“Every child deserves to live free from violence, in a safe family environment”

As a part of the reform measures a new family assistants service was developed, offering practical support to families at risk of separation. This included the creation of procedural standards and the training of family assistants, education and training of family outreach workers was developed along with the creation of the handbook “Selected Topics on Planning and Managing Child Protection Measures”. During the implementation, more than 910 experts strengthened their skills and knowledge – 804 family outreach workers, 51 family assistants, 30 trainers of family assistants and 29 trainers of family outreach workers. More than 331.000 EUR were invested in the implementation of the mentioned activities.

“Every child has the right to live in a family environment free from violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect, and harmful practices. Parents, at the same time, have the right to receive support in raising their children. I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Croatia, especially the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, the European Commission, and all our implementation partners for their fruitful cooperation in this crucial area of child protection and support. We are proud of the results and changes we have achieved together, but we are also aware of the work that still lies ahead. Still, more than 3.280 children continue to be separated from their parents out of which 1,350 live in institutions, and rights of more than 9,100 children are still violated per year.  As UNICEF, we remain committed to working closely with partners and supporting the Government to ensure that every boy and girl in Croatia lives safely, feels protected and loved in a family, and can realize their potential and dreams”, said Luisa Brumana, UNICEF Representative in Croatia.

“Separating a child from their primary family, no matter how dysfunctional it may be, is a profound trauma that often shapes the child’s entire upbringing. Unfortunately, a significant number of parents within the social welfare system lack the skills needed to adequately care for their children. Many are unable to organize themselves or their household and have not mastered basic life skills, largely because they, too, grew up in dysfunctional and adverse family environments. The role of a family assistant is to provide parents with instructional guidance on how to care for their children and themselves on a daily basis. This includes organizing the household, maintaining nutrition and hygiene, and creating a safe and nurturing environment for children. A year-long initiative involving the engagement of family assistants in high-risk families has proven to be highly effective in most cases. It benefits children, families, and the social welfare system as a whole, fostering conditions that enable children to grow up with their biological parents — which is always in the child's best interest”, concluded Jasna Ćurković-Kelava, head of Center for Community Services Zagreb.