At the current stage of development of “For Our Children” Foundation programme, we target several aspects of family care for children at risk, which we consider socially pressing. Such an essential aspect is how security for children at risk is seen by professionals and common Bulgarian people in periods when measures are taken in a family environment – native family or its alternative. In the same direction is the current technical task, related to training and mentoring a team of experts to elaborate, test and implement safe family environment standards.

During the 3-year project the foundation will ensure consent between all concerned parties regarding gaps in the existing protection policy for children raised in a family environment as well as proposing development strategies. In addition, efforts will be made to establish standards, which will guarantee protection of children in family environment. It is an important step forward for the project as it will formalize rules and standards for families to follow to harmonically raise their children.

The project will involve children in establishing standards for safe and reliable family side. The approach to creating standards is unconventional. More often than not, rules are set based on what is missing or wrong. These standards will be established and implemented as a result of all participants – children, families, professionals, sharing personal stories on what protected children do in their families. The approach of story-telling is used in the US state administration. It is also applied in developing standards for beyond-biologic children care in Europe.
The safe and secure family environment standards will ensure peaceful and supportive atmosphere for the development of Bulgarian children. They will be established and applied gradually first in foster families, then in biological families in order to encompass the greater part of Bulgarian parents.

“For Our Children” Foundation has included in the realization of the project children, families, professionals from the child-protection structure, as well as two international mentors and a Bulgarian expert.

The project has been funded by the OAK foundation.