The status of families with children in Serbia was extremely vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the crisis, social welfare services in a number of local self-government units (LSU) were not available at all to the vulnerable groups and population in general, while families with children were left to the side and to their own devices to combat the challenges brought about by the epidemic. This problem was precisely the focus of the Support to Families with Children in Crisis Situations project implemented by the Center for Social Policy (CSP) from October 2021 to September 2022, with financial support from the Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) and US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The following activities were implemented as part of the Support to Families with Children in Crisis Situations project:

• Desk research was conducted on the status of families with children during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Examples of good practices and challenges were collected along with studies regarding access to rights and services for families with children during the corona virus pandemic.

• Two events for exchanging experiences and innovative practices were held with representatives of civil society organisations (CSO).

The first event for exchanging experiences was held in Leskovac (30-31/03/2022), with the participation of 21 participants from 10 CSOs with seats in 9 cities and municipalities (Leskovac, Belgrade, Niš, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot, Prokuplje, Ivanjica, Vranje, Bojnik).

The second event for exchanging experiences and practices was held in Novi Sad (4-5/05/2022), gathering 20 participants from 5 CSOs, and representatives of 8 LSUs (Belgrade, Novi Sad, Raška, Zrenjanin, Aranđelovac, Šabac, Stara Pazova, Loznica).

• A cycle of two training of trainers events (ToT) was held as part of the activities for empowering the selected CSOs.

The cycle of two ToTs was held in Belgrade, 26-27 May and 16-17 June 2022. The training was attended by 20 CSO representatives from 12 CSOs operating within the territory of 11 LSUs in Serbia (Kula, Belgrade, Niš, Šabac, Vranje, Brus, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot, Ivanjica, Bojnik).

• The results of the achieved project activities and findings collected during project implementation were presented at two regional presentations attended by CSO and LSU representatives.

The regional presentations were held on 29 June in Kragujevac, and on 30 June 2022 in Leskovac. The event in Kragujevac gathered 25 representatives from 11 municipalities and cities (Kragujevac, Knić, Rača, Brus, Rakovac, Aranđelovac, Belgrade, Velika Plana, Batočina, Lapovo, Loznica), while the project results were presented in Leskovac to 27 representatives of 10 LSUs (Leskovac, Pirot, Bojnik, Prokuplje, Vranje, Bela Palanka, Niš, Belgrade, Babušnica, Dimitrovgrad).

• The results of the study and collected challenges and examples of innovative practices were used to draft the study “Analysis of the Status of Families with Children during the COVID-19 Crisis in the Republic of Serbia”, covering recommendations at both the national and local level for improving the social welfare of families with children in future crisis situations.

The Support to Families with Children in Crisis Situations project is characterised by a highly participative implementation process. CSOs that provide social welfare services under the competence of LSUs shared their precious direct experience in working with families with children during the COVID-19 crisis, and the assessment of their innovative practices - with many continuing after the epidemic was over - and their impressions, expressed needs and insights into challenges and potential solutions, were taking into consideration when designing the contents of the ToT and formulating the conclusions and recommendations in the project analysis, providing added value in the further improvement of local policies related to families with children.

 

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Brief overview of the project results:

- 2 events for exchanging experiences and innovative practices with CSO and LSU representatives

- 2 cycles of training of trainers

- 2 regional presentations of project results for LSU representatives

- 15 CSOs participated in events for exchanging experiences and innovative practices

- 12 CSOs empowered as part of the training of trainers

- 17 LSUs covered by events for exchanging experiences and innovative practices

- 11 LSUs covered by the training of trainers

- 21 LSUs covered by regional presentations of project results

- 1 study

- 10 overall recommendations for improving the social welfare
of families with children in crisis situations

- 6 recommendations in the field of financial handouts,
at the national and local level

- 10 recommendations in the field of social welfare services,
at the national and local level.

 

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More information on the Support to Families with Children in Crisis Situations project can be found here.

 

Exchange of experiences and practice of LSU and CSO representatives on the status of families with children during the COVID-19 crisis in Serbia – Leskovac (30-31/03/2022)

Exchange of experiences and practice of LSU and CSO representatives on the status of families with children during the COVID-19 crisis in Serbia – Novi Sad (04-05/05/2022)

Training of Trainers - 1st cycle (Belgrade, 26-27/05/2022)

Training of Trainers – 2nd cycle (Belgrade, 16-17/06/2022)

Regional presentation held in Kragujevac (29/06/2022)

Regional presentation held in Leskovac (30/06/2022)