The objective of the programme that is being financed by UNICEF with HRK 5 million is to strengthen and extend social services to families with children encompassed in the social welfare system and in particular to secure the well-being of children given that in 2015 there were 6,141 cases recorded of inadequate care for children who were exposed to bodily and mental violence, sexual abuse and neglect, etc.
"We plan to incorporate 900 experts in social welfare and 400 workers in health and education. The programme will encompass 2,000 families or rather, 4,000 children and UNICEF will allocate HRK 5 million for that. The objective is to provide training and support to foster families," Minister Nada Murganic said.
Head of the UNICEF office in Croatia, Valentina Otmacic said that the project that will be implemented by the Ministry and Croatian Association of Social Welfare Workers, is an upgrade of the joint work already achieved and expects the project to raise the overall welfare of children who live in families at risk.
"We expect the training that will be provided to be sustainable and to enter into the system so that it can become part of life-long learning for social welfare workers. We also expect it to raise the quality of foster care. Foster families are very dedicated and they need support so that the result of their efforts are even better," Otmacic said.
There are 1,467 foster families in Croatia providing care for more than 2,000 children.