In the theoretical part of my master's thesis, I address the topic of mental health and describe children and adolescents at high risk, facing challenges that are also reflected in mental health issues. Based on various studies and the opinions of several authors and experts, I discuss the issues related to the treatment system for these children and adolescents who are placed in educational institutions or specialized centers. I present the challenges faced by these institutions in Slovenia and review various studies conducted in the field of institutional education. I more broadly highlight the concept of deinstitutionalization and its development both abroad and in Slovenia, as it forms an important foundation for systemic changes through the introduction of new legislation and concepts for working with this population of children and adolescents. I draw fundamental information from research studies, monographs, foreign articles, textbooks, and books written by professionals in the fields of special and social pedagogy. In my work, I address both the social aspect of institutional care and the legal perspective, including the systemic legislative framework. The field of institutional life for these children has been comprehensively regulated by new legislation that came into effect at the beginning of 2021. I describe the novelties introduced by this new legal framework, including changes in placement procedures into educational institutions or specialized centers, preventive interventions, new methods and approaches to working with these children and adolescents, and the support provided after discharge from the institution. I also present relevant European legislation, guidelines, and recommendations in the field of institutional education. In the empirical, research-based part of my thesis, I analyze 17 interviews with principals and professional staff from all nine educational institutions/specialized centers in Slovenia. I compare the previous system of placement and working methods with the current legal arrangement.
I was particularly interested in the opinions of principals and professional staff regarding the new systemic regulation of placing children and adolescents into these institutions, and how they are now treated under the new legislation. I explored whether the specialized centers have introduced new programs and methods of working, and how effective these are in practice when working with children and adolescents. The interviewees also shared their insights into cooperation with families or other significant individuals in the child’s or adolescent’s life. Furthermore, I asked the principals and staff about the challenges and issues they face in their work, particularly the state of qualified personnel and how they cope with the treatment of today’s population of children and adolescents dealing with emotional and behavioral difficulties and severe mental health issues. All of the respondents praised the new arrangement for the preventive treatment of professional workers in mobile services, who are primarily involved in supporting children, families, and professionals in kindergartens and primary schools.
When discussing the new methods and approaches to individual treatment, the respondents emphasized the importance of involving families and other significant individuals in the child’s or adolescent’s life. They pointed out that cooperation with parents or guardians greatly facilitates the child’s or adolescent’s integration into the community or their reintegration back into the family.
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