LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

After the establishment of STREP in 1995, nobody believed that its new methods of work with socially endangered children might be considered to be a new approach in social work and that their implementation will lead to the legislative changes. In spite of all this mistrust, STREP started to work on the gradual change in this field.

STREP contributed to the legislative changes of the following acts:

• In the amendment of the Social-Legal Protection of Children Act (1999, 2006), we succeeded in reinforcing work with the biological family and the attempt to preserve the family environment of the child. State social workers will be obliged to recommend professional help to families of children placed in institutional care in order to ensure the return of the child to the family.
• We managed to incorporate activation services for endangered families with children in the wording of the clauses of the Social Services Act (2006).
• The draft of the Act Concerning Institutional and Protective Care in School Facilities (2002) contained a disciplinary measure enabling locking children in solitary confinement with no regulatory or procedural measures. Our association managed to achieve the deletion of this measure in facilities for children without behavioural disorders. In facilities for children with behavioural disorders from 12 to 18 years of age, the use of this disciplinary method has clearly regulated rules which come under the supervision of the state prosecutor and ombudsman.

The STREP´s success results from:

• Continuous work on the development and provision of new social services for endangered children and their families.
• Regular publication of the results of its work.
• Creation of partnership with organisations which promote similar ideas using acceptable tools.
• Cooperation with relevant departments of ministries.
• Cooperation with foundations whose financial support has enabled STREP to develop its activities.
• Contacts with selected members of parliament.
• Cooperation with the media.

The situation in the field of work with socially endangered children and their families has been gradually improving. We dare to say that all STREP´s activities contributed significantly to the promotion of this issue at a professional and legislative level and prompted the start of the system transformation. It is a long process that depends on the cooperation of several ministries in the competence of care for endangered children, state administration-social workers of social-legal protection of children, institutional care facilities, NGO´s and other institutions operating in this field. STREP´s future projects will aim at the implementation of new legislative changes, creating good practice examples in cooperation with other relevant institutions and further development of its services tailored to the target group´s needs.