UNICEF supports strengthening child protection specialists to assist children with complex emotional needs

With the support of UNICEF, key child protection specialists from the methodological support departments of the Territorial Social Assistance Agencies (ATAS) across the country are participating today, February 25, in a training workshop led by international consultants Ms. Vivien Thompson and Ms. Lesley Beath from Scotland. The purpose of this workshop is to strengthen the capacities of specialists working with children affected by trauma who are placed in the Professional Foster Care Service.

According to Daniela Mămăligă, Director of Partnerships for Every Child /P4EC/, this workshop continues the training sessions initiated in December 2024 for professionals involved in providing APP services, complementing practical aspects of working with groups of children with complex emotional needs. “It is essential for professionals to constantly update their knowledge and apply best practices in supporting children who have experienced trauma. This meeting allows us not only to review the results of the pilot placement for children with complex emotional needs, but also to consolidate the practical skills acquired, ensuring that the approaches applied are not only effective but also sustainable in the long term. The wellbeing of the child in the APP service is directly linked to the wellbeing of the caregiver, which is why specialists responsible for delivering the service play a key role in providing ongoing support to APP, both through formal supervision and mentoring and support sessions,” said Ms. Mămăligă.

Present at the opening of the event, Ms. Viorica Dumbrăveanu, UNICEF Moldova Child Protection Officer, emphasized that working with child trauma is an innovation for Moldova. “This program is both a necessity and a challenge for the sector. Unfortunately, most children currently placed in the APP Service have already experienced trauma and therefore require an individualized approach. UNICEF Moldova is currently supporting, in partnership with several NGOs including P4EC and under the aegis of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the strengthening of this service through the revision of the Framework Regulation, minimum quality standards, and cost structures for the APP Service. We understand that this service is a foundational family-type service, which requires continuous strengthening and investment in the ongoing training of human resources. The presence today of colleagues from ATAS will ensure the sustainability of the service’s development,” said Ms. Dumbrăveanu.

The event is organized under the project “Every Girl and Boy is Protected and Empowered to Reach Their Potential with Dignity”, implemented by Partnerships for Every Child  in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, with financial support from UNICEF.