THE SACP HOLDS A TRAINING SEMINAR FOR SCHOOL CHILD SUPPORT TEAMS

The State Agency for Child Protection and Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, with the support of the Regional Department of Education, organized a training seminar for school teams - psychologists, pedagogical advisors and principals from all over the country. Supervisors, psychologists and pedagogical advisors are the first ones expected to build a suitable school environment, as well as provide immediate assistance in a crisis situation in educational institutions. Not only do children and parents expect them to do this, but also their colleagues.

The forum acquainted the specialists with the ways to develop a positive organization culture, with the resources and networks for cooperation with other organizations in cases of crisis, support for their work on certain cases with children and families, steps to take in crisis situations, guidelines for inclusive education in the conditions of COVID-19, online consultations and electronic processes in the cloud, etc. The main work focus were the opportunities for counseling and signaling on the National Telephone Line for Children 116 111.

“We all know how hard it is to create teams. The beginning is set with an atmosphere of respect for each other, for the children, the parents, the colleagues. It proceeds with systematic support and building trust in everyone as a professional and as a person. And when cooperation becomes the norm for the people in the team, then teamwork is most useful for the children. When everyone on the team gives their best, then the school becomes a successful and happy place for the children.”

With these words, the Chairperson of the State Agency for Child Protection Dr. Eleonora Lilova opened the training seminar. The event was supported by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Eng. Tanya Mihailova, the President of the Bulgarian Union of Teachers, Ph.D. Yanka Takeva, the director of the National Inspectorate of Education Dr. Anelia Andreeva, the head of the RWU - Sofia-city Dr. Vanya Kastreva, and others.

"I thank the State Agency for Child Protection for creating something good and useful for Bulgarian education again," said Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mihailova. For his part, the chairman of SBU, Dr. Yanka Takeva emphasized to the audience the importance of the forum, which provides appropriate guidelines and models for building successful team management in educational institutions.

Holding the seminar acquainted the professionals with specific examples and strategies that the SACP experts have worked on many times over the years in cases of: giving first psychological aid; risk identification and risk groups; suicide prevention; survival ways; help from colleagues and intervention; seeking and promoting strengths and a supportive environment; rules for working with children from families of addicts; strategies for dealing with potential problems, etc.

At the end of the training, the participants from Sofia and the country shared that they are leaving enriched, more confident and better prepared for the challenges related to the dynamic and constantly changing environment in which we live in, thanks to the seminar organized by the SACP.