A study from Croatia sheds light on a crucial shift in the country’s social welfare system – deinstitutionalization. This approach moves away from institutional care facilities and prioritizes placing children and young people in more home-like settings. The research focuses on the resocialization of youth with behavioral problems, exploring the potential of pedagogical methods for successful reintegration.

Moving Beyond Institutions: A New Approach to Child Welfare

Traditionally, child welfare systems have relied heavily on institutional care facilities. However, this study highlights a progressive move:

• Deinstitutionalization: Croatia’s social welfare system is shifting its focus, prioritizing placing children and young people in community-based settings.
• The Benefits of Home-like Environments: This approach aims to provide a more nurturing and familiar environment that fosters reintegration and positive development.

Resocialization: The Key to Reintegration

This study delves deeper into the concept of resocialization, a crucial aspect of deinstitutionalization:

• Behavioral Challenges: The research focuses on young people who have exhibited behavioral problems, requiring specific strategies for successful reintegration.
• Pedagogical Resocialization: The study emphasizes the importance of pedagogical methods, which utilize education and positive reinforcement to facilitate positive behavioral change.

An Interdisciplinary Approach: Understanding Experiences

The research employed a qualitative approach, analyzing the experiences of educators and specialists:

• Community-Based Setting: The study focused on a Community-Based Service Center in Zadar, Croatia, interviewing staff who work directly with children and youth.
• Semi-structured Interviews: In-depth conversations allowed educators to share their perspectives on the implementation of pedagogical resocialization.

Positive Outcomes: Educators Embrace Deinstitutionalization

The study revealed encouraging findings:

• Support for Resocialization: Educators expressed a positive attitude towards resocialization efforts within the deinstitutionalization framework.
• A Simulation of Family Life: Many educators viewed the community-based setting as a positive step, offering a more family-like environment.
• Challenges Remain: While acknowledging some shortcomings within the social welfare system, educators recognized deinstitutionalization as a catalyst for broader improvements.

A Call for Collaboration: A System-Wide Approach

The study highlights the need for a collaborative approach to ensure successful deinstitutionalization:

• Social Welfare System: The deinstitutionalization process needs ongoing evaluation and adaptation within the social welfare system.
• The Role of Education: The study suggests that deinstitutionalization can serve as a catalyst for improvements within the education system, ensuring it can effectively support the reintegration of youth.
• A System Working Together: Collaboration between social welfare and education sectors is crucial for creating a comprehensive support system for children and young people.

This Croatian study offers valuable insights for child welfare systems around the world. By prioritizing home-like environments, utilizing pedagogical approaches, and fostering collaboration across different sectors, we can create more effective pathways for the resocialization and successful reintegration of young people facing behavioral challenges

Matilda Karamatić Brčić, Ana Marija Iveljić and Iva Serdarević. Pedagogical Resocialization of Children and Youth with Behavioral Problems Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13121244

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