Tulip Foundation organised an Introduction seminar to present Family Group Conferences. The seminar took place at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy on 14 – 15 July 2011.
The aim of the meeting was to present the concept of the Family Group Conferences to a wider circle of professionals. The method is applied by the Nederland’s FGC centre Eigen Kracht Centrale and other organisations in a number of countries in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The model is based on maximizing the responsibilities of citizens on the ground of their own abilities and connections with relatives and social networks in the preparation of a plan for overcoming concrete social problems.
The seminar was organised in the frame of an innovative project “Trust in the Family” for supporting children by strengthening families at risk that is implemented by Tulip Foundation with the generous support of Unicredit Foundation. The project is aimed at helping families at risk to stay together; enforcing the role and the responsibility of the family aimed at raising children in the best environment for their development. The project is an answer to the substantial number of children that for various reasons do not receive the best care in the family and in many cases end up in institutions where they spend many years of their lives. The activities foresee introduction of the model of Family Group Conferences in Bulgaria through training of trainers and practical work in four municipalities in Haskovo region. The aim is to ensure a long term solution for one of the burning social problems in the country.
Maria Petkova, Director of Tulip Foundation, opened the meeting by underlining the power of cooperation.
Valentina Simeonova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy addressed the participants and underlined the necessity and the importance of work of various organisations in support to families and children in the community.
Victoria Blajeva, Director Public Relations at Unicredit Bulbank presented the activities of Unicredit Foundation and told about the way the employees of Unicredit Bulbank supported the project “Trust in the Family” of Tulip Foundation.
HE Karel van Kesteren, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, shared the willingness of his government to support the efforts of the Bulgarian government and society in the process of social transformation.
Speaker was Rob van Pagée - a trained social worker and governing board member of the Eigen Kracht Centrale in the Netherlands. Together with his colleagues, Rob van Pagée has recognized the potential of this model to the child care arena and beyond. They started the introduction of FGC in the Netherlands and created in 2001 the Eigen Kracht Centrale, an NGO which became the Dutch Center for Restorative Practices.
He presented the concept of FGC and answered a number of questions on the principle as well as details from the practical realisation of FGC. A role play game gave the participants opportunity to gain a direct impression.
Maria Petkova presented shortly the activities planned in the frame of the project “Trust in the Family”. She assured the participants that they will be informed about the future steps and their comments and suggestions will be considered. The participants from many various directorates, agencies and civil organisations discussed whether and how the model can be adapted to Bulgaria and ended the meeting with a consensus that the Family Group Conferences can be an effective practical instrument for support to children and families in their efforts to cope with difficulties. The model could be applied in different situations and types of difficulties that are connected with children directly or indirectly. At the end of the seminar the participants talked about the main elements and activities that are important in the introduction of the model.
