Training for Children’s Home Workers – Children as part of the family – March 5, 2024

Last year, we launched free professional training seminars for children’s home staff with five sessions in 2023. Feedback showed that this program provided a much-needed resource, and child protection workers were enthusiastic about attending.

Given its success, we are pleased to continue this program in 2024. The first session took place in early March, focusing on the theme “Children as part of the family.”

We were honored to welcome back L. Ritók Nóra, director of the Igazgyöngy Foundation, as one of our speakers. She gave an insightful presentation on the complex realities faced by disadvantaged children and families. With over 20 years of experience working with families in deep poverty, Nóra offered valuable perspectives on the environments many children in care come from.

The second presentation delved into family care from a practical, hands-on perspective. Nikolett Mester, a case manager from the Child Welfare Center in Budapest’s 8th district, provided illustrative examples from her work, shedding light on real-life case scenarios.

After lunch, Dr. Szilvia Gyurkó, a child rights expert and founder of the Hintalovon Foundation, took the stage as a regular contributor to our series. Her presentation focused on the complex and often sensitive relationships between children in care and their biological parents. By addressing all parties involved, she helped participants gain a better understanding of the parents’ perspectives and explored ways to foster improved collaboration.

The day concluded with a presentation by Dr. Mihály Makara, a chief physician and advocate for children’s emotional well-being. Drawing from both his own and international research, Dr. Makara discussed the lifelong impact of positive and negative childhood experiences. His insights resonated deeply with participants, who witness the unfortunate effects of predominantly negative experiences on children in care.

We are thrilled that over 80 staff members from nearly 20 different institutions attended this first session. We look forward to welcoming equally engaged and dedicated professionals at our future trainings!