Developmental-prevention work with children without parental care in institutional foster care

Abstract

Developmental-prevention work, as a form of non-formal educational working method, relies on science-based proof of effective strategies in the area of positive development promotion and behavior problem prevention. It refers to application of social-educational techniques which are developed in the framework of prevention strategies such as informing, education and providing alternatives, and also to application of drama techniques which are based on applied theatre forms. Developmental-prevention work is focused on improvement of knowledge of different problems in life, on improvement of skills to recognize and react in different problem situations, and also on strengthening internal capacities and various set of social skills. Based on a two-year experience in applying this working method on children without parental care from the Center for Care of Infants, Children and Youth - Belgrade, we will describe in this paper the main features of the developmental-prevention work, also we will summarize the results of the developmental-prevention workshops and present drama performances that were created as a result of developmental-prevention work. These drama performances have a significant contribution when it comes to promotion of positive development of children without parental care, and additionally have a significant impact on their social integration in the local community.

Razvojno-preventivni rad, kao forma neformalnog vaspitno-obrazovnog rada, oslanja se na naučno-zasnovana saznanja o efektivnim intervencijama u oblasti promocije pozitivnog razvoja i prevencije problema ponašanja dece i omladine. Podrazumeva primenu socijalno-edukativnih tehnika razvijenih u okviru preventivnih strategija informisanja, edukacije i pružanja alternativa, kao i primenu dramskih tehnika utemeljenih na formama primenjenog pozorišta. Ciljno je usmeren na unapređivanje nivoa znanja i obaveštenosti mladih o različitim problemima svakodnevnog života, ovladavanje veštinama prepoznavanja i pravilnog reagovanja u problemskim situacijama, jačanje unutrašnjih snaga i kapaciteta, ali i razvijanje niza socijalnih veština. Na osnovu dvogodišnjeg iskustva u primeni ove forme rada u domovima za decu bez roditeljskog staranja pri Centru za zaštitu odojčadi, dece i omladine - Beograd, u radu su, nakon opisa karakteristika razvojno-preventivnog rada, sumirani ostvareni rezultati sprovedenih razvojno-preventivnih radionica i prikazani dramski performansi koji su nastali kao rezultat razvojno-preventivnog rada, a koji se ocenjuju kao najznačajniji doprinos na planu promocije pozitivnog razvoja dece bez roditeljskog staranja, ali i podsticanja njihove socijalne integracije u uže i šire socijalno okruženje.