1. I NVESTING IN CHILDREN - EU INSTRUMENTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Policy responses and reforms in Bulgaria to support children and families 31 October 2014, Sofia MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL POLICY REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

2. P OLICIES REGARDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - BASIC OBJECTIVES (1) Guaranteeing the right of every child to have a family; Development of high-quality community-based social services; Development of high-quality community-based social services; Child poverty reduction; Child poverty reduction; Accelerating the process of deinstitutionalization.

3. P OLICIES REGARDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - BASIC OBJECTIVES (2) With a focus on the introduction of an entirely new approach to child care by: - Prevention - Early intervention - Supporting families and providing family or family-type environment for every child

4. K EY CHALLENGES Children are a particularly vulnerable group in terms of the risk of poverty and social exclusion; Higher risk of poverty among children in Bulgaria compared to the EU average; Need for an integrated approach and comprehensive policies; Preventing the spillover of intergenerational poverty and support for the child at an early age in order to prevent risks for development, access to child care, school, support for parents.

5. N ATIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK National strategy to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion 2020 National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020, Priority 2 ‘Reducing poverty and promoting social inclusion’

6. H UMAN R ESOURCES D EVELOPMENT O PERATIONAL P ROGRAMME 2014-2020 (1) Providing quality support to children and families - a priority for the new 2014-2020 programming period Improving child welfare in accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission ‘Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage’

7. H UMAN R ESOURCES D EVELOPMENT O PERATIONAL P ROGRAMME 2014-2020 (2) Key measures in the new Operational Programme: - Provision of services for families with children, prevention services (family counselling, prevention of abandonment, etc.); - Support services, including integrated cross-sectoral services in the community or in the family; - Coordinated measures to prevent and avoid the causes that give rise to poverty and social exclusion.

8. D EINSTITUTIONALISATION OF CHILD CARE (1) Consistency, continuity and irreversibility in the decisive stage of implementation; Achieving sustainable and effective results to improve the quality of life of children and to create the best conditions for developing and unfolding their full potential; Funding via applying the cross-financing model

9. D EINSTITUTIONALISATION OF CHILD CARE – KEY CHALLENGES Active cooperation between all competent partners and institutions; Ensuring sustainability of funding; Systematic coordination between all competent institutions at national, regional and local level; Providing integrated cross-sectoral services for children; Effective work on prevention of child abandonment; Changing public attitudes.

10. C HILD PROTECTION MEASURES Prevention, rehabilitation, accommodation with relatives, foster care and adoption Continuous decrease of children at specialized institutions and providing conditions for their upbringing in a family and a family- like environment

11. C OMMUNITY - BASED SOCIAL SERVICES Developed network of community-based social services, based on the case-by-case approach Steady trend towards a steady increase in the number of community-based social services for children and reduction of the number of children placed in institutions

12. E ARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT New concept for programmes and policies to support children and families Challenges: Recognition of early childhood development as a policy area of all stakeholders; Active cooperation and close collaboration for the development and delivery of integrated services for early childhood development; Implementation of an integrated approach and coordination of activities between institutions working in the social, health and educational fields.

13. S OCIAL INCLUSION PROJECT The aim of the project - social inclusion of children up to seven years old through investments in early childhood development; New types of services for children and families: - Early Childhood Development; - Prevention of risks in early childhood; - Better coverage and improving the readiness of children for inclusion in the education system; - Improving family environment, etc.

14. F INANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN Family Allowances Act; Child Protection Act and its implementing rules.

15. T HANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION !