Family cohesiveness – legal and parental skills issues that put

families at risk in Ukraine

Olga Dudina, UkraineXVIII International AIDS conference

July 21, 2010Vienna, Austria

• An estimated 75,520 HIV affected children in Ukraine live with their biological families

• In a number of cases parents are at risk of being deprived of parental rights because of:– Anti-social behavior– Alcoholism/drug dependence– Child neglect and abuse

this can result in a child’s placement into orphanage

Facts

• Implemented by All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH in a partnership with– Elena Franchuk “ANTIAIDS” Foundation– Elton John AIDS Foundation– Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation

• With financial support of– Elton John AIDS Foundation– The Big Lottery Fund– Elena Franchuk “ANTIAIDS” Foundation

• Implementation term: 2008 - 2013

“Children Plus” Project

Project Pilot Sites

One of Four Project Outcomes

To provide a continuum of practical and psychological support to vulnerable families in order to prevent 1,500 children affected or infected by HIV from being placed in

institutions, or becoming street children

• Main Criteria – children infected or affected by HIV

• Additional criteria (one or all):– Brutal treatment– Registration at Centers for Social Services an/or at

Services for Children's’ Rights– Parental drug/alcohol dependence– Parental absence of permanent income/low income– Incomplete family– One of family member’s in prison– One of family member’s death

Selection Criteria

• Family needs assessment

• Preparation of care plan and forming package of services

• Provision of individual comprehensive package of care (multidisciplinary team consisting of Project Coordinator, Psychologist and Social Worker)

• Final evaluation and further planning

Case Management ApproachProject teams provide:

• Individual and family counseling of social worker, psychologist

• “Parenting Schools” for parents

• Self-support groups for family members

• Legal support

• Representing interests of the families in different institutions

• Referral to other agencies/rehabilitation centers

• Educational activities for children at day care room/center

Comprehensive Package of Care

List of services to vulnerable families and their children developed in a cooperation with governmental authorities and implemented

Cooperation with Governmental Authorities

• Food & Nutrition

• Housing Condition & Care

• Protection (from abuse and exploitation)

• Health issue (condition & services)

• Psychological characteristics (emotional health)

• Education & skills (behavior, intellectual activities, and access to education)

Child Status Index as a Monitoring Tool

Child Status Index. How it works

• Baseline assessment

• Based on results: provision of required services

• Next assessments – on bi-annual basis

• Evaluation of positive or negative dynamics of child’s well-being:1. further interventions

2. case is closed

2 years Results

1500

673

829

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Total number ofchildren to beprevented frominstitualization

Number of familiesreached

Number of chilldrenalready prevented from

institualization

• Legal support

• “Parenting schools”

• Child Status Index

Findings so far

– All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS:• http://www.network.org.ua

– “Children Plus” Project:• http://www.prosto-deti.org.ua

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION