1. Integrated Approach towards Investing in Children
Milena Harizanova
UNICEF Bulgaria

2.
General Comment 7 (2005) of the Committee of the Rights of the Child: Implementing child rights in early childhood
European Commission Recommendation Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage
Principle: EU Member States should always take the child’s best interests as a primary consideration and recognise children as independent rights-holders, whilst fully acknowledging the importance of supporting families as primary carers

3. POLICIES – ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES
Children living in poverty and material deprivations – a set of social benefits; issues of access and adequacy;
Access to health care – monitoring and follow up of pregnancies, early pregnancies, access to GP and specialists, mental health care;
Early identification of children with developmental problems – no well developed services and instruments for recognition and identification;
Early learning and education - no programmes for stimulation of learning after birth, including via parenting support programmes; high average enrollment rate in kindergartens for children 3-6, however significantly lower for vulnerable children
Support for parenting – insufficient programmes;
Children with one or both parents abroad – difficulties in fulfillment of rights;
Access to justice – difficulties in access to justice for children from vulnerable groups, children in conflict with the law, children victims of violence and crime;
Sectoral approach vs. integrated policies.

4. APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – CENTRE FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Goal: improvement of primary health care for children below 3ys, pregnant women and mothers via provision of health services in the homes of the families
Target groups: pregnant women, mothers, newborns babies, children below 3ys, family members and supporting environment
Coverage: regional level – regions of Shumen and Sliven
Main activity: home visitations

5. APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – CENTRE FOR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Results:
Shumen (April 2013 – June 2014):
2535 families;
Including pregnant women (156 of them without health insurance);
8989 consultations;
30% от families received intensive package of support.
Sliven (March - October 2014) :
families

6. APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS
Objective: to establish a sustainable model of support to parents of young children below 4 ys as well as to future parents
Universal programme
Provides a possibility to parents to share their experience, knowledge and concerns related to the up-bringing and communication with their young children, to expand their knowledge on child development and the psychological needs in early childhood.
Up to now:
88 рarental groups;
Over 800 participants;
66 localities.

7. APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – FAMILY CENTRES
Provide support to the whole family in the context of the community;
Targets most vulnerable communities, families and children;
Flexible service responding to local needs - mapping;
Programme approach – early childhood development, family planning, social mediation;
Outreach services;
Regional approach (Shumen region) and inter-municipal cooperation.

8. APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – FAMILY CENTRES
Results ( ):
Over 3200 families – assessed and included in different programmes;
105 cases of direct prevention of family separation (84 successful);
32 children re-integrated in their birth families;
152 children enrolled in kindergartens; 33 children returned to school;
491 pregnant women without health insurances supported to start monitoring of their pregnancies
587 women included in family planning programmes

9. APPROACHES TO INTEGRATED INVESTMENTS IN CHILDREN – CHILD MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE RUSE
Integrated health-social service for mentally disturbed children and adolescents and their families – counselling, therapy, prevention of separation;
Easy access for consultation;
Multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment and individual treatment plan;
Services:
Therapeutic care focused on child or adolescents – individual clinical therapeutic work and therapeutic workshop – a place for inventions;
Therapeutic care focused on parents – family therapy and workshop for parents – a place for sharing and learning;
Work focused on creation of professional network – multidisciplinary meeting – a place for encounter.