Description

In time, the Romanian Law of adoptions had many and important changes , which highly affected the category of children who were going to be adopted.
During 2011 and 2012 N.C.C.D., in partnership with the Romanian Office for Adoptions, has developed this project aimed to increase the number of adoptions for the children belonging to the category of those that are hard to be adopted, by preventing discriminatory attitudes against them.

The project targeted the case managers within the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection from the metropolitan area (Bucharest and surroundings – Ilfov.)

These case managers were trained by specialists of N.C.C.D. in preventing discrimination – with a focus point on human responsibility, knowledge of the legislative and legal non-discrimination framework in Romania – information and specific examples, but they have also debated upon the concrete cases they deal with.

Duty bearers targeted, and their specific obligations (if any)

The project targeted the case managers within the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection because they are the ones who investigate the cases of children separated from their biological parents (children for whom they make an individualized protection plan, whose final purpose is the adoption).

The case managers are the binding, the connection between the biological/extended familiy, the adoptive family( the possible one), the authorities and the adopted child.
These are facing with complex situations and with very different social categories.

Regarding their obligations, from the moment a child is considered to be legally adoptable, the case managers are responsible for the adoption to take place legally, rightful, with the respect of non discrimination principle regarding the case management and final adoption.

Main objective of the project

The overall objective of the project was to inform and train the specialists who come in direct contact with children and their biological/extended family in order to respect the principle of non-discrimination. All the children who meet the legal requirement for an adoption proceeding must have the equal opportunities to benefit of it.

The specific objectives of the project were:

• theoretical and practical knowledge regarding discrimination and adopting the estetical perspective of diversity
• prevention of discrimination acts against children and the biological/extended family
• reducing the intolerance level towards those categories of children with specific particularities : Roma children, older children and those with physical or mental disabilities.
• reducing the intolerance level towards certain biological/extended families with certain characteristics: Roma families, illiterate families and families with disabilities.

Tools

The project was structured in two training modules and a final debate ( d ). Evaluation questionnaires were applied, which will be taken into consideration in the possible future projects.

We mention that the project developed in 2012 is a result of the project that took place in 2011 and of the expectations of participants.

Key achievements

The key achievements of this project were

• A better understanding of the fundamental human rights and awareness of our own role in preventing intolerance and discrimination attitudes.
• Increasing the number of children with completed Integrated Safety Plan which leads to an increased number of adoptions.

Indirect beneficiaries of this project:

• About 1500 children from the protection system
• About 1500 biological/extended family
• Analysis of data collected and needs of further training for the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection employees.

Key challenges

The project revealed the need of a school for parents who want to adopt a child.