Stories told by practitioners (Part I)

Examples worth following — With and about families who can become strong when motivated and encouraged

(The story of Andrei and Elena, two young people who managed to build a somewhat happy family)

Andrei and Elena were living their life stories in different corners of the world. He, a father of two, had gone through a ten-year marriage and endured an immense loss caused by the death of his wife. She, a graduate of a boarding school and herself a mother, had been forced to bear the burden of a relationship marked by violence, alcohol abuse, poverty, and despair. Modest by nature, neither of them had ever publicly displayed the difficult circumstances in which they found themselves. They worked day jobs in villages to feed their children and provide them, with dignity, the essentials of life.

After several failed attempts to rebuild their lives, fate brought them both to the village of Chetriș. It was here that they met and realized that beyond the need for employment—essential for raising their children—they shared a common dream: to have a happy family.

“We identified the families during monitoring visits related to the provision of social assistance. Elena and Andrei did not know each other at that time. Therefore, we discussed each case separately within the Directorate of Social Assistance and Family Protection, during working meetings attended by members of the multidisciplinary team,” recounts Olesea Pantea, the community social worker in Chetriș.

As a result, a decision was made to refer both cases at the district level so that the families could benefit from the Family Support Service.

“It was the first step toward a better future for Andrei, Elena, and their children—and the good news was just beginning (…) The two met and decided to stay together and raise their children as one family,” the social worker continues.

Money helps, but it is not everything

In the meantime, the multidisciplinary team also notified the Commission for Children in Difficulty. Following a more in-depth assessment, the Commission allocated 3,000 lei so that the parents could purchase food, clothing, and other essential items that were missing from the newly formed family’s home.

The new family was also strongly supported by the local mayor’s office, which initially provided financial assistance of 500 lei, food products, medication when needed, and even several poultry birds to help the parents establish a modest household.

“Of course, more assistance followed, but what impressed us most was the openness and prompt response of the community to our call to support this family. The receptiveness shown by the entire community was remarkable. Everyone wanted to contribute something, and that meant a great deal to the family.

Community involvement is extremely important in such situations. In a village, people know one another and understand what kind of help each person can offer when neighbors, friends, or relatives go through difficult times. In this case, neighbors came forward with all kinds of support—from food and clothing to even volunteering as wedding sponsors! That is how a new family was born in our village,” says the mayor, Zinaida Diaconu.

The social worker knows best who, where, and how much

A community that is responsive to the challenges faced by families—whether they are at risk or temporarily experiencing crisis—will always generate positive outcomes.

Of course, many community resources are “activated” by the community social worker, who connects them to the beneficiaries. The social worker knows best how to raise awareness and properly inform residents about how a situation should be managed and where to direct those in need of assistance.

In this case, the family also received medical support whenever necessary. The school was mobilized as well: teachers from the village gymnasium provided academic assistance to the children, helping them catch up with their studies and successfully integrate into the school community.

“This significantly contributed to the children’s intellectual development and prevented their institutionalization in boarding schools. They remained at home, with their parents. Even though this is a family where children from different marriages are being raised together, we observe that all the children have developed strong attachments to both the mother and the father. Now, Andrei and Elena are regarded as parents by all three children,” shares Alesea Mamai, a teacher at the Chetriș Gymnasium.

In turn, the local police officer conducted several home visits, speaking with the parents and neighbors to ensure that the situation was under control and to reassure the family that they could rely on support in any situation—even when they simply needed advice.