Udruga roditelja “Korak po korak”

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Type of organisation: Non-governmental organisation/association
Main sector of activity: Civil society organisation

Background

PASBS is a non-profit organization that advocates the development of a society oriented to the best interests of children and youth as well as protection and respect of the rights and interests of children, youth and families. It encourages democracy and active citizenship where parents, children and youth participate in creating policies which concern them. It cooperates with preschool, school and other institutions responsible for children and families; it represents the interests of children, youth and families before authorities; it organizes seminars and public events to raise awareness of the necessity of protection of children and youth rights. It supports educational politics which provide equal opportunities and access to free compulsory education for all children, it encourages voluntarism and participation of parents in matters of great importance for their children.

Activities of the PASBS for the past 20 years have been directed to development of capacities of local communities and their institutions for promotion and protection of the rights of the children. In that period PA Step by step gained a lot of experience in working with children, parents, kindergarten and school staff, organizations of civil society and representatives of local and regional units.

Association was founded in 1996, has 48 full and 17 associate members, 7 employees and 54 volunteers. The Association is a member of the European Parents’ Association (EPA) and COFACE Families Europe. It is a member and one of the funding associations of the Coordination of Associations for Children in Croatia (CAC). It is also an active member of the GOOD initiative – platform that gather organizations of civil society that deals with non-formal learning and human rights and advocates the systematic and quality implementation of education for democracy and human rights in Croatian formal education system.

Strategic directions of the Association 2021-2025 include:

PROMOTION OF RIGHTS, WELFARE AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH

• Identifying needs and monitoring the implementation of policies for children and youth at national and EU level
• Responding to problems and situations in society that are of interest to children and young people and their families
• Promoting a systematic approach to the prevention of child and youth abuse
• Promoting and encouraging responsible sexual behavior
• Promotion and protection of mental health of children and youth
• Promoting social inclusion of children and youth

FAMILY EMPOWERMENT AND PARENTING SUPPORT

• Identifying and monitoring the needs of parents and families, especially vulnerable groups of parents and families
• Strengthening the voice of parents in creating policies and decisions concerning children and families
• Improving the quality of life of parents and informing, educating and counseling parents
• Promoting positive parenting
• Protecting sexual and reproductive health and promoting responsible sexual behavior, and providing assistance and support to underage pregnant women, mothers and their families
• Protection of the mental health of parents and families, especially vulnerable groups

RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING OF RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

• Implementation of research and advocacy activities in the field of children, youth, families and parenthood, as well as education, protection and promotion of health and social inclusion and protection
• Development of innovations within strategically oriented projects at the national and international level
• Strengthening the capacity of relevant stakeholders through information, education and training

COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION AND NETWORKING AT EU, NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS

• Development of intra-sectoral and cross-sectoral cooperation and networking at EU, national, regional and local levels

Experience

The PA SBS team consists of psychologists, social workers, anthropologists, psychotherapists and pedagogues with direct experience of working in school environments and dealing with anxiety, including extensive expertise in dealing with mental health and preparing educational / training programs in this area. Relevant experience in the areas of this proposal have also been acquired via various domestic and international initiatives:

• The BRZO #Work&Family project is aimed at supporting families, working parents, in order to achieve a balance between work and family responsibilities. The initiative is part of the European campaign #IWantWorkLifeBalance implemented by COFACE Families Europe.
• CARE2LEARN – Supporting the Transition from Early Childhood Education and Care to Primary School is an Erasmus+ project aiming to develop an early intervention tool to tackle learning disadvantages by strengthening early key skills of children to lay quality foundations for their education and chances of positive life outcomes, but also relieve parents, ECEC and school system from additional pressure.
• TEMCO – Theme Network “Lifelong learning accessible to all” is an EU funded ESF project aiming to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to achieve effective dialogue with public administration and the scientific community in shaping and implementing public policies to ensure lifelong learning accessible to all, thus creating a precondition for a significant impact of CSOs on reducing educational inequalities in Croatia.

Experts