ISKORAK (A step forward)

Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation, UNICEF Office for Croatia and University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences are implementing a multi-year program entitled: “A Step Forward”. The program aims to improve assessment and interventions for children and adolescents with behavioral problems in social and justice institutions.

The objectives and activities of the Step Forward program complement the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Croatia to further improve services in the social and justice system and represent an additional contribution to the processes of prevention of institutionalization, deinstitutionalization and transformation of institutions for children and adolescents with behavioral problems.

The program is implemented with expert and financial support from UNICEF, while the team of experts from University of Zagreb Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences is responsible for the creation and implementation of the program, with the participation, monitoring and support of the Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy and the Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation.

VISION, OBJECTIVES AND MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAM

The program is based on the vision that children and young people with behavioral problems discover and achieve their potential and have opportunities for a productive and fulfilling life in the family and the community.

The main goal of the program is to contribute to the strengthening of the child protection system in Croatia in order to provide appropriate, timely and effective interventions and support for children and youth with behavioral problems who are users of the social and justice systems.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  1. Detailed analysis of the situation and needs of institutions for children and adolescents with behavioral problems
  2. Establishment of the Advisory board on the care and treatment of children and adolescents with behavioral disorders
  3. Development of a new instrument for the assessment of behavioral problems and training of experts in the field of assessment of behavioral problems
  4. Training for comprehensive care of staff of educational institutions – professional and administrative-technical staff (with a focus on training of staff of institutions whose formal education dates back many years or who have not acquired professional knowledge in working with children and adolescents with behavioral problems in their formal education)
  5. Development and testing of two special group interventions and training of experts for their application
  6. Organization of international scientific and professional conferences on the topic of improving alternative care for children and adolescents
  7. Development and maintenance of a permanent web platform for professionals, children, adolescents and decision-makers in the field of care and treatment of children and adolescents with behavioral problems
  8. Supporting the participation of children and young people with behavioral problems in decision-making processes and participation in care processes
  9. Development and standardization of organising housing services
  10. Development of content and guidelines for the training of students at relevant higher education institutions.