Forming and developing a network of professional foster parents (1998-2001)

This is a pilot program launched in partnership with 'Hope Cottage' from Dallas, Texas, which provided training classes (3 modules) and with the Offices for Children's Protection from the counties of Brasov, Buzau, Covasna, Harghita, Ilfov, Prahova. The attendees were social workers and psychologists.

Accomplishments:
Generating the first wave of experts in the fields of social work and protection of children's rights;
Creating a primary network of professional foster parents;
Creating jobs for unemployed persons, by carefully selecting, and fully priming them to become Professional Foster Parents;
Significant reduction in the number of institutionalized children (hundreds of children left their orphanages and have been taken by professional foster families). Galerie foto

"A home for every child" (1998-2011)

a national interest program that targeted the over 80 thousand abandoned children in orphanages and hospitals at the time.

Every child's constitutional right to a family was guaranteed by binding Romanian legislation, Bill No. 87/1998, in accordance with international agreements such as the United Nations Convention and the Hague Convention, which Romania had previously adhered to.

The Catharsis Association received its yearly accreditations from local and central authorities in order to identify the right persons and/or families wishing to adopt one or more children, fully abiding by binding legislation. Our adoption program was developed and implemented in partnership with the Committee for the Protection of Children's Rights in the respective counties where the eligible children resided, thus complying with the Repartition directives from the Romanian Committee for Adoptions. Tens of children were given the chance to leave their orphanages and be placed with adoptive families, in order to have their destinies changed forever.

Our 2-year long monitoring operations of the children adopted between 1998-2008 by families from Brasov, Bucharest, Braila, Botosani, Covasna, Constanta, Dambovita, and between 1998-2001 by families from abroad (Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Greece, US) confirm the pivotal role of adoption in protecting abandoned children.

Between 1998 – 2011, we oversaw the international adoptions of only those children who failed to find an adoptive family through the national repartition process. They were turned down because of their ethnicity (Rroma), age (over 6 years old) or health conditions (suffering from such disease as Hepatitis B, C, tuberculosis, epilepsy, autism).

International adoption was based on the principle of "equality and nondiscrimination" and offered these children the unique chance to have parents, a family, a happy childhood and safety. Many of these children returned to Romania to see the orphanages they had left, they searched for their natural families, friends, and close acquaintances. During their visits they understood the reasons for their abandonment and eventual adoption. International adoptions were suspended in October 2001 and blocked in february 2004.

On December 6, 1998, the Catharsis Association organized the first ceremony for children adopted by families from Brasov and Covasna. The event had a tremendous impact on the community. After it we noted an increase in the number of families and individuals who wanted to adopt a child.

Accomplishments:
The post-adoption reports, accompanied by pictures of the adopted children, are a testament to the fact that these children now live happily, and enjoy love and parental protection, special care and help with medical needs, are well adjusted socially, and understand the reasons behind their abandonment.

During the ceremonies for the internationally adopted children, they have the opportunity to meet with Romanian authorities (social workers, psychologists, lawyers, physicians, judges, journalists, presidents of various committees and diplomats) and succeed in maintaining ties to their native country.

The national adoption program is on-going.

Galerie foto

 
 

Catharsis, transparență și loialitate!
Monitorul Oficial al României, 13.07.2022
 
 

Gala Catharsis 25 de ani

 

Centru de consiliere și sprijin pentru părinți și copii


Școala părinților

 

Programs and Projects developed

  bullet   in 2013-2014
  bullet   in 2012
  bullet   in 2008-2012
  bullet   in 2007
  bullet   in 2004-2006
  bullet   in 2002-2003
  bullet   in 2001-2002
  bullet   in 2001
  bullet   in 2000-2001
  bullet   in 1999
  bullet   in 1998
  bullet   in 1997
  bullet   in 1996
 
 

Ongoing projects - 2014

 

Suntem acreditați pentru a furniza activități și servicii în domeniul adopției, după cum urmează:

  • Informarea persoanelor/familiilor care își exprimă intenția de a adopta, cu privire la documentația necesară, la demersurile și durata procedurii adopției interne.
  • Evaluarea persoanelor/familiilor care doresc să adopte, în vederea obținerii Atestatului de persoană/familie aptă să adopte un copil.
  • Cursuri de pregătire a adoptatorilor pentru asumarea în cunoștință de cauză a rolului de părinte. Cursul se desfășoară timp de trei săptămâni, în fiecare zi de sâmbătă între orele 10:00 – 14:00, la sediul Asociației Catharsis. Cursul este organizat în parteneriat cu Direcția Generală de Asistență Socială și Protecția Copilului Brașov. Nu percepem taxe de participare.
  • Informarea și consilierea adoptatorilor cu privire la demersurile legale necesare dezvăluirii, în condițiile legii, a identității părinților firești ai copilului și după caz, necesare contactării acestora și/sau a rudelor biologice de către copil.
  • Activități post adopție prevăzute de lege: informare și consiliere pentru părinți și copii, cursuri pentru dezvoltarea capacităților parentale, grupuri de suport pentru părinți și copii, sprijinirea adoptatorilor în vederea informării copilului cu privire la adopția.
  • Activități de informare și promovare a adopției.