Representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family, Heads of Social Assistance and Family Protection Departments of 11 regions, met recently to participate in a workshop on the implementation of the National Practice Model “Getting it right for every child – TOGETHER” in the Republic of Moldova. This practice is based on a Scottish child well-being program GIRFEC.
The National Practice Model (NPM) was adapted for the Republic of Moldova, and is being piloted in Calarasi, Falesti, and Ungheni regions, monitored by the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family, Ministry of Education, and supported by Partnerships for Every Child (P4EC). By 2017 the model is planned to be integrated into the national child protection polices and practices.
The workshop was moderated by Mike Mawby, a British expert working in the Scottish Government team implementing GIRFEC. The workshop participants included local coordinators in-charge with the piloting of this model. They have already had initial training in Ungheni, Falesti, and Calarasi.
Thus, the participants were involved in discussions on the applied practices, work tools used in the NPM, and challenges in its implementation. Aspects, such as universal services, specialized services, in place at the local level, their collaboration, the use of a common language by all specialists working in child protection, need of an integrated child and family well-being evaluation framework in Moldova, family protective factors, social, cultural, legislative differences between Moldova and Scotland, etc.
GIRFEC (Getting it Right for EveryChild) represents a personalized approach to the work with children and youth in Scotland, regardless of their environment, needs, risks, and circumstances. The approach aspires to make a maximum contribution to every child’s well-being.
The event was organized within the project “Children in Moldova grow up in safe and secure families”, implemented by P4EC in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Moldova and local public authorities of 11 regions: Ungheni, Calarasi, Cahul, Causeni, Falesti, Nisporeni, Orhei, Rezina, Singerei, Soroca, and Telenesti. The project is financially supported by USAID.