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Community services for children in Bacau - Synopsis

Project title: Social inclusion through the provision of integrated social services at community level

 

Project promoter: UNICEF Country Office Romania

 

Project partner: Bacau County Council

 

Project budget: 3.285.706 EUR

 

Project duration: 32 months

 

Short description of the project: Over 40% of the Romanian population is at risk of poverty, with children particularly affected (49%). Due to low coverage and adequacy of social benefits and services, poverty is not reduced significantly, and the social inclusion is not strengthened either.

 

UNICEF developed a model of integrated social services at community level, with the aim to generate relevant evidence and influence the national reforms in health, education and child protection.

The goal of this model is to deliver at national level of a universal package of preventive social services (health, education, social protection) in an integrated manner to children and their families to reduce the equity gaps and deprivations for children who suffer, while also reducing the medium and long term costs in the social sector. The project is implemented and piloted in Bacau County.

 

Results and impact:

  • Early identification of vulnerabilities and risks of social exclusion and, integrated community based services provided to 100% of the child population in 45 communities, 11,633 vulnerable children are identified, out

      of which 658 (5.6%) are Roma and 126 community professionalsare delivering a minimum package of services. Integrated         services provided to an estimated number of 54,000 vulnerable children and their families

  • Increased enrolment rate, decreased number of school absences by at least 10% at primary and lower secondary levels

  • Improved knowledge and parental skills through parenting support and counselling provided to approximately 9,000 parents, in particular parents of at risk children

  • Increased capacity of 46 schools and 46 kindergartens to provide inclusive quality education through mini-grants

  • Increased capacity of 38 mayoralties to provide a minimum package of services

  • Increased knowledge of beneficiaries about rights and services

  • Model approach, methodology and instruments integrated into relevant national programmes, legislation, norms and standards. Several components of the Minimum Package of Services are included in the National Strategies for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction, Child Rights, Health and Education

  • Allocation of national public and EU funding to community-based, social services increased

  • Data and good practices developed through the model shared and discussed at national level, regional and EU level.

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