Social and Legal Protection of the Child in the Context of Shared Care After Divorce

Elena Ondrušková

Research centre and Department of Social Work

Faculty of Education, Comenius UniversityBratislava, Slovakia

Conference, Vilnius, 2013

Tarptautinė mokslinė praktinė konferencija„Socialinio ugdymo(si) teorija ir praktika: tendencijos, iššūkiai ir galimybės“

2013-11-14/15

Projektas „Socialinių pedagogų sėkmės akademija“

Divorce process– CHILD protection, support and help

Divorce process

Protection Support Counseling or therapy

protection, support, counselling

Family courtFamily court all procedures during divorce process should be undergo in

the best interests of the child (and protection of wellbeing of the child)

adjudgements related to custody after divorce, divorce decree (joint legal, joint physical custody, visitation schedule)

parental agreement

Child´s GuardianChild´s Guardian (State Body „SPO“) the protection of the minor child during the process of

divorce is ensured by the institute of a guardian „in collision“

can affect the post-divorce situation by ordering specific social and legal measures: programmes, counselling

child guardian :the state administration body SLP

assessment of family situation, relationship between parent and child

situation according housing and family social situation, incomes

supervise arrangements of parental post-divorce custody agreement

if the opinion of the child is finding out during ,

the Body should provide the adequate help, or service to the child to facilitate the process of interview

it should be led in environment or place suitable for child´s needs

provides social counseling to parents or child or mediates support or help in special professional

institutions or healthcare centres

support of professional intervention to child at divorce

social or psychological counseling group counseling or therapy

aimed: support adaptation to divorce changes, to cope with divorce emotions

accredited bodies: NGO, public institutions, ( church: pastoral counseling )

NGOs and realization of „measures“ – interventions

according with § 10, 11 „Act to social-law protection and social curacy“ (n.305, 2005) :

social and psychological programs for children of divorce

work with the parents, where the violence is confirmed finding out the opinion of the child assessment of family situation social guidance or counseling

they need to be accredited (by Ministry WSAaF) for the professional activities, measures or services

NGO´s focus on social work with child and family Unicef Slovakia („Hope“, „Smile as a gift“ ...) helpline/ hotline for children programs for children and families assessment of family situation meeting with parent under supervision finding out the opinion of the child, interview with the

child in special occasion

adjudgements on sharing child´s custody after a divorce

  Mother % Father % Joint Ph. Cust. %  2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012

January 89,6 87,3 8,2 7,9 2,1 4,8February 90 84,8 7,4 9,9 2,6 5,3

March 88,8 86,7 7,4 7,6 3,8 5,8April 87 87,7 9,2 7,8 3,8 4,5May 84,7 87,2 9,9 7,8 5,4 5June 87,2 84,9 8,5 9,1 4,4 5,9July 86,5 86,7 8,6 7,6 4,9 5,6

August 86,7 84,8 9,3 10,4 4,1 4,8September 87,8 85,4 8,3 7,9 4 6,7

October 86 83,5 9,5 10,9 4,5 5,6November 86,9 85 8,1 7,5 5,1 7,5December 86,1 87,9 8,7 7,1 5,2 5,1

court orders related to custody in the years 2011 and 2012 by months

qualitative preliminary research

„child of divorce“ risk prevention during divorce process

participants : 10 social workers= guardians, 9 women, 1 man, all working

in (capital) Bratislava,

research objectives:

1. ? child risk prevention factors (during divorce process)

2. ? opportunities for reducing risky factors

data collection method

semi-structural interview

data analysis method:

category analysis

legallegal

socio-socio-psychologicalpsychological

psychologicalpsychological

economicaleconomical

categories from data processing:

qualitative analysis:

risk prevention categories

category of „legal factors“:„legal factors“: parental agreement, divorce settlement

agreement, professional support, „the child´s best interest“

category of „socio-psychological factors“:„socio-psychological factors“: parental marital relationships,

sibling relationships, parental communication, relatives, professional

support

category of „psychological factors“:„psychological factors“: child resiliency, vulnerability,

personal characteristics, professional support

category of „economical factors“:„economical factors“: income of each parent, financial

security

Research conclusions for practice

social workers considered „legal“„legal“ and socio-psychological factors socio-psychological factors significant for reducing risk of „child divorce“

„„legal“ : legal“ : improving the methods for negotiating improving the methods for negotiating „parental agreement“„parental agreement“

supporting the child as a subjectchild as a subject of the law in SLP procedures (to inform the child, give as much as possible needed information directly to child, to enable participation at counselling or supporting programmes)

socio-psychological factors:socio-psychological factors:

parental coping and divorce adaptation support = enhancing child´s resiliency- cooperative parenting programmescooperative parenting programmes

child´s coping and adaptation support – counselling (group or individual) programmes for children of divorce,

thank you for attention

eondruskova@fedu.uniba.skkeckesova@fedu.uniba.sk