«When the system works: real-life experiences of supporting children and families» – round tables held as part of the «Embrace» project

Alternative forms of family upbringing are about the child's right to a family. Round tables within the framework of the «Embrace» project in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, and Sumy were devoted to finding solutions that will help make this right accessible to every child.

These meetings focused on how alternative forms of family education are implemented in practice.

The first panel discussion focused on real-life cases of alternative forms of family education and the role of interaction between local services and specialists. The second panel discussed the human dimension of the system: professional challenges, burnout risks, and support mechanisms.

The value of these round tables lies in partnership. Child welfare services and social service centers at the regional and city levels, as well as regional representatives of the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Forms of Education and Child Care, joined the discussions. It is this kind of cooperation that allows us to strengthen the child protection system where it already works.

We would like to give special mention to the Support Centers of the Ukrainian Education Platform – the Globa22 Charitable Foundation, the Youth of Ukraine public organization, the Sumy Public Circle NGO, and the Ukrainian Peacebuilding School Association. It is thanks to their involvement and work on the ground that the Obeymy project is able to be implemented.

The «Response to the Crisis in Ukraine» project is being implemented by the Ukrainian Education Platform Charitable Foundation with the support of the International Rescue Committee.