Day 2: We formulated 60 priority measures that the Network wants to see in the Vision for Family Policy 2030
On the second day of the Annual Meeting of the National Network for Children, together with the organizations, we worked in thematic working groups on child policies in Healthcare, Education, Family, and Law. At the end of the panels, we covered a 4-meter-long board with written priorities that we will advocate for in the coming months. We want over 60 important measures to become part of the Vision for Family Policy 2030.
Here are the outlined measures by areas.
Healthcare:
During the past year and the beginning of this year, the Network fought for:
- Commitment to medical foods by the National Health Insurance Fund (we managed to at least formally bring the topic back to the agenda of the Ministry of Health).
- Prohibition of gambling advertising and for the Children’s Hospital (we collected over 7,000 signatures and raised the issue in Parliament).
- Advocated for a proper Children’s Hospital (it will not be located in the courtyard of the Alexandrovska Hospital, and the Ministry of Health will develop a needs analysis).
Furthermore, we submitted an Opinion on providing off-label medicines for children with oncological diseases and supported efforts to expand the package of examinations for health uninsured pregnant women.
Moving forward, we want:
In healthcare services:
- Policies/programs for recruitment and lifelong training of healthcare and medical personnel.
- Access and support for children up to the age of 12 in hospital institutions.
- Availability of psychologists and social workers in every hospital (psychological support and mental health are highly underestimated in the child healthcare system).
- Access to free medications for children aged 0 to 18 and for uninsured pregnant women.
In health prevention:
- Restriction of gambling and tobacco advertising.
- Generation free from tobacco smoke by 2030.
- More blood tests for various indicators.
- Health education with specific standards.
- Increased promotion of health culture among children and parents through communication campaigns.
- Update of the methodology for preventive check-ups (the current one is from 2003).
- Strategy to increase the number of vaccinated children (after Covid-19, there has been a sharp decline in trust in vaccination, including mandatory vaccines).
In maternal health:
- Restoration of practices for prenatal and postnatal care.
Family:
We have succeeded in restructuring the Parliamentary Committee on Children, Youth, Family, and Sports (and we will continue to insist on removing “sports”). We initiated a collective action before the European Committee due to the rejected National Child Strategy. We have engaged political parties in the topics of children and families, established regular meetings with service providers and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, and prompted the ministry to seek feedback and clarify the implementation of the Law on Social Services. We reached an agreement that there should be standards for foster care and a focus on sustainability. We supported proposals for changes in the Family Code that eliminate the possibility of stepchild disinheritance. We raised an alarm about the reduced quality of the National Child Helpline 116 111.
Moving forward, we want:
In the child protection system:
- Diverse mechanisms to support families.
- Standards for the qualifications of employees in the education system and additional training.
- More psychologists in the “Child Protection” department.
- Campaigns that increase understanding of violence, including domestic violence.
- More prevention campaigns targeted at families.
- Improvement of the working conditions for employees in the “Child Protection” department.
In balancing personal and professional life:
- Educational assistants for children with special educational needs, with the Ministry of Education and Science taking responsibility.
- Support for young people with disabilities for independent living after the age of 18, with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and employers being responsible.
- Support for single parents (social assistants) and protection against employers, with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and employers taking responsibility.
In access to quality social services:
- Measures to improve communication between institutions working to support children and families.
- Enhancement of public trust and the image of social workers.
- Updating the regulation on minimum wages for workers in social services.
- Involvement of close relatives in assisting people/children with disabilities in the implementation of the Law on Social Services.
Education:
The unstable political situation has made it difficult to engage in dialogue with institutions in recent months, but the Network has continued to seek ongoing contact with them. We have provided opinions on current issues, cases, and solutions. We advocated for changes in the criteria for directorship competitions, worked towards the inclusion of refugee children, and continued to push for reforms in childcare centers.
Moving forward, we want:
In the everyday life of schools and kindergartens:
- An accessible environment (accessible in every sense – physical environment and financial possibilities).
- Unity among all, working as a team (avoiding division into “high achievers” and “low achievers”).
- Single-shift schedules.
- Modern libraries.
- Suitable spaces for eating and relaxation (students currently eat in the corridors because it’s prohibited in classrooms, and there is a lack of suitable seating).
- Clean and accessible toilets.
- Flexible and diverse forms of childcare.
- No televisions or screens in kindergartens.
- Integrated physical education and sports programs in kindergarten curricula.
- Group sizes of 15-18 children with 2-3 professionals in kindergartens.
Knowledge and Skills:
- The focus in education should be on skill development.
- Involvement of professionals and practitioners from universities, businesses, NGOs, and scientific organizations.
- More subjects focused on personal development (presentation skills, career development).
- Teacher qualifications should align with the characteristics of different generations and train them to develop skills.
- Non-formal education methods (interactive methods) should be integrated into formal education.
- Development of leadership skills among school principals.
- Encouragement of civic engagement among students.
- Increased control by the non-governmental sector over the adoption and implementation of programs by the Ministry of Education, including the use of funds.
- Quality framework for secondary education.
Mental Health:
- Increased number of psychologists in schools.
- Confidentiality and professionalism among psychologists.
- Psychological support groups for teachers.
- Discussions on various issues of school bullying between students and school staff.
- Awareness of the availability of psychological support.
- Topics initiated by students during class hours related to various subjects.
Inclusion:
- Effective team support.
- Knowledge and skills for independent living.
- Teachers who are willing to self-improve, compassionate, courageous, and have inclusive skills.
- Accessible and welcoming environments in all schools.
- More resource teachers and specialists.
- Motivated and incentivised teachers (financially and morally) based on their results.
Legal Protection:
The Legal Aid Network of NMD discussed dozens of cases and scenarios that its volunteers worked on, assisting children and families from across the country. They covered strategic cases of the Legal Aid Network (LAN) and successes in the courtroom, the newly joined 8 members, the 4 working groups (including the major working group for juvenile justice), the research work of the Legal Aid Network, and much more. Also discussed was the amendment to the Network’s Statute, which allows non-legally educated experts to volunteer.
In the practical part of the panel, the participants divided into three teams, each conducting brainstorming sessions on one of the following topics:
- Involving the Legal Aid Network in NMD’s campaign to ensure medical food supplies for all children and families in need through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
- New landmark international cases that LAN could initiate.
- Ideas for the second edition of the legal-discussion forum LexTalks.
We are extremely grateful to all the organizations that participated in the thematic working groups for their expert involvement and active work in setting the next priorities for the Network’s operations. We also thank the youth from “Megafon” for their work in the Education group. The measures in the “Everyday School Life” section were entirely proposed by them.