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Latvia
Past projects
Project:
Implementation of new strategies of working and raising professional capacity in children’s public care institutions Project goal: To prevent social exclusion of youth and children in Latvian child care homes by supporting the implementation of a national policy concerning the establishment of group homes. This short-term project was implemented in close cooperation with the Latvian Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, a relatively new ministry in Latvia, established in 2004. The aim of the project was to build capacity within the ministry itself to strengthen the process of de-institutionalization of children and young people. In Latvia there is still a large group of children who grow up in so-called orphanages, despite the fact that the government does try to stimulate foster care and other forms of non-institutional care. We also worked to improve the skills of staff working in selected institutions, so they are better able to provide youth with adequate support in preparing them for a life after the institution. We feel we managed to do a fair amount during this six-month project, and are happy with the constructive working relation we had with the staff at the ministry. Main achievements in 2007: • Three knowledge exchange workshops were held in Riga, organized by ICDI in cooperation with Cardea Jeugdzorg and the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs. • An exchange visit of staff from the Latvian ministry to the Netherlands (seven Latvians stayed in the Netherlands for five days to experience first hand the Dutch system for youth care). • A concluding seminar on new approaches in out-of-family care, which was attended by around 60 people working in the out-of-family care system in Latvia. • A five-day Training of Trainers on ‘Life Skills Training for Adolescents in Latvian Youth Care Institutions’ for 20 people. These 20 people are expected to train staff in institutions so that they too can better prepare the youngsters in their care for life outside the walls of the institution. • A policy advice document entitled ‘Innovative Approaches in Latvian Youth Care’ was developed and presented to the Minister for Children and Family Affairs. It is expected this policy paper will contribute to the development of new youth care policies in Latvia. Main challenges in 2007: Financial constraints in the Latvian youth care system (and this is true from ministry down to local level), and related problems in human resources (most qualified staff in Latvia migrate to places like Ireland), place some limitations on the potential impact of the project. To give an example: one of the ‘master trainers’ could not do her homework assignment simply because the staff in the institution kept complaining about their low salaries and refused to engage in the training. We have to be realistic; a project like this can generate some positive momentum and create space for new ideas, but it won’t change an entire (belief) system over night.
Project Manager Matthijs Euwema
Van Jan 2007
Tot July 2007
Partner
* Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Latvia
* Cardea Jeugdzorg, Leiden
Donor
Dutch Ministry of Family Affairs, via the MATRA Flex programme of EVD
