This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Commission position on De-Institutionalisation'.


Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)
Montenegro
IPA  AN INVESTMENT IN EUROPE. AN INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE.
Upgrading care 
for children in need in Montenegro 
Vulnerable young people need careful attention, and in Montenegro the EU has been helping 
to prevent separation of children and families, and supporting community-based care and 
the provision of better homes.

CHILDREN CARE INSIDE THE 
Changes also include reform of the network of centres 
COMMUNITY 
for social work and the country’s day-care centres for 
children and young people with disabilities. Specialised 
Children who lack parental care, or who have  training to enhance quality of care, provision of 
disabilities, or who come from minorities that suffer  additional equipment, and the introduction of new 
discrimination are getting a new chance in Montenegro. 
methods and tools such as case management and 
Children in need are benefiting from a new framework 
individual planning have upgraded services. Attendance 
that is transforming institutional care, promoting  at day-care centres has increased by 150 % since 
fostering, and opening up opportunities in day-care  2010, from 53 to 133 in February 2013. And across 
and education. 
the country, proper data collection and management 
have been put in place through a new electronic child 
New legislation has shifted the focus away from  protection database.
institutionalisation and towards care in the community. 
In the country’s largest care institution, Komanski Most,  “My son will acquire work habits, and, despite 
the number of children dropped from 154 in 2010 to 
his severe disabilities, he can still know 
107 in October 2013 – a 30 % decrease. Admissions to  that he needs to go somewhere, to 
this institution are down, too: until 2010 the annual  have obligations and, simply, to 
average for admissions was 31.5, but only 21 and 23  create some rhythm in his life 
children were admitted in 2011 and 2012 respectively.  and become a member of 
And a moratorium is now in force on placing children 
society as much as all the 
less than three years old in institutional care. 
others without a disability,” 
said Sehada Osmankadic, one 
DEVELOPING FOSTER CARE
of the parents whose son just 
started attending a day-care 
Meanwhile, foster care is being developed. The number 
centre in Peljvlja.
of foster-families has doubled over the last two years, 
and media campaigns to attract foster parents have 
led to a recent boost in the number of families under 
training as foster carers. Training of social workers 
has also been adapted, with expert support in the 
introduction of new foster-care standards. 
Enlargement
GROWING TOGETHER


Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA)
Montenegro
IPA  AN INVESTMENT IN EUROPE. AN INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE.
LINKS TO EDUCATION
awareness about the rights of children with disabilities, 
and prompted greater demand for services and 
Cooperation has been promoted among authorities  enhanced inclusion. 
responsible for health, education and social welfare. 
Staff are being trained in intersectoral approaches  Training of school staff has included specialised 
to supporting families and children at risk of  assessment and care of children suffering autism, 
separation, and new children with disabilities are being 
along with models of schooling of children with autism. 
increasingly included in mainstream education. The  Nejra Mekic, a psychologist at an elementary school 
number of children with special educational needs  who has received training, said she was shown “a 
that have benefited from assessment and support  completely different approach towards children with 
by multi-sectoral teams rose from 654 in 2010 to  autism, including methodologies in communication, 
1,220 by August 2013. Media campaigns have raised 
and how to better respond to their needs.”
PROJECT DETAILS – Child Care System Reform
Partners:
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Montenegro 
UNICEF Montenegro
Total cost in €: 
1,374,560 
EU Contribution in €: 
1,249,600  (91 %)
Start date:
January 2011
End date:
July 2014
Results: 
Shift from large institutionalised care to smaller homes 
and foster-care and community-based care; 
new and modernised day-care centres; 
new staff skills and greater inter-sectoral cooperation
Techniques:
Development of policies, legislation, and monitoring mechanisms; 
strengthening institutions; training of staff; 
development of services; 
promotion of foster care
Enlargement
GROWING TOGETHER