Advocacy & Partnership for Quality Care

Advocacy and Partnership for Quality Care

We call upon government and communities to fulfil their commitments for children without parents or at risk of losing parental care, and we support them in their efforts. This work is guided by the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children and is in the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We advocate for measures to prevent the loss of parental care. We also support the development and implementation of alternative care quality standards and demand continuous monitoring of these standards. This includes appropriate support for gatekeeping, reintegration, social workforce development and the leaving care process. In our advocacy, we draw on evidence gained through our work in alternative care and family strengthening.

Since 1995, SOS Children’s Villages Albania has been active in the field of social protection through provision of quality alternative care services for children and young people without parental care and community-based services for families at risk. SOS AL works in partnership with duty bearers, state bodies, key stakeholders, main organizations and service providers in the field of social protection and children in need.

SOS Children’s Villages Albania is actively participating in the creation of public policies and advocates for the rights of children and young people at social risk and create opportunities for young people to be involved in influencing, shaping, designing and contributing to policy and the development of services and programs.

SOS Children’s Villages Albania advocacy campaigns

2009 – 2023

“I Matter” 2009 – 2013

“Care for Me” 2014 – 2016

“Advocacy Now” 2017 – 2023

The goal of “Advocacy Now” campaign is to contribute to change the Law “On the Orphan Status”, to offer quality services for young people and after care services related to housing, health care, psychosocial support, education and employability. Two main pillars are after care service provisions for young people and lobby for reintegration policies and procedures for children and young people in alternative care. The campaign has increased the capacities of young people and involved them in advocacy for their rights. Stakeholders, CSOs, duty bearers have increased knowledge and cooperation for support in the advocacy topic of campaign, after care and quality care services for young people, through policy/law changes.

Other IPD projects that supported “Advocacy Now” campaign:

“Now What? Empowerment of young people leaving care” funded by Erasmus+ program of EC Brussels, implemented in 2018 – 2019
“Power for Youth, Leaving Care” funded by Erasmus+ program, implemented on 2020 - 2022