Articles Economic Alternatives, 2019, Issue 3, pp. 456-468 Deinstitutionalization of Social Services for Children in Bulgaria in the Focus of Regional Development Policy Elka Vassileva*1 field-of-social-services,-as-well-as-their- Tsvetelina Nikolova Berberova-Valcheva**2- compliance-with-the-strategies-and-plans- for-regional-development; Abstract y- To- explore- the- concentration- of- social- services- by- area,- in- order- to- ensure- The aim of the study is to reveal territorial access,-and-satisfaction-of,-the-specific- differences in the localization of social services territorial-needs-of-the-provision-of-social- for children and how the regional policy services-for-children; implemented can contribute to improving the process of deinstitutionalization. The research y- To- make- proposals- to- integrate- tasks in this article are related to the analysis social- policy- objectives- into- the- field- of the legal framework and adopted strategic of- deinstitutionalization,- setting- out- documents in the field of social services, as a- common- strategic- framework- for- well as their compliance with the strategies implementing- regional- development- and plans for regional development. It is policy. also necessary to study the concentration The focus of the study is limited to the of social services by area to provide access provision of social services for children and address the specific territorial needs of and the administrative-territorial districts in providing social services for children. Also Bulgaria, where child-care homes (0-3 years make proposals for integrating social policy old) are still functioning, and the study period objectives in the field of deinstitutionalization is limited to the last 5 years. by establishing a common strategic It is clear from the analysis that services framework for the implementation of regional are rarely envisaged for small settlements. development policy. Concentration is in large cities, mainly from Тhe research tasks for this purpose are accommodation or public support centers. as follows: Keywords: Regional Development, y- To- analyze- the- normative- bases- of- the- Strategy, Social Services adopted- strategic- documents- in- the- JEL: P36, R580, I380 * Chief Assistant Dr., University of National and World Economy, Faculty of Management and Administration, Department of Regional Development. ** Assist. Dr., University of National and World Economy, Faculty of Management and Administration, Department of Regional Development. 456 Economic Alternatives, Issue 3, 2019 Articles Introduction identified in the field of regional development and social services for children, outlining the n 2010 Bulgaria started the process of joint field of the two interdisciplinary areas of de-institutionalization of social services, I science. which puts new requirements in the social The planning of each activity of the de- sphere and requires a new approach institutionalizing of social services should to planning. Current circumstances and include representatives from all areas related new practical experience in implementing to children’s lives meticulously researched the deinstitutionalization process have locally. The article is focused on the current provoked research integration for theoretical deinstitutionalization process related to investigation and analysis, directly linked to childcare in Bulgaria on a territorial basis, the provision of social services for children. examining its deficits and attempting to The scientific studies in this area are weak, highlight the opportunities for improving the empirical evidence is fragmented, and process and offering guidelines for improving practical analyzes are insufficient. the provided social services and benefits. The article contains research and studies The study is limited to the provision conducted by the authors, linked to the of social services for children and to the problems and risks that can be encountered administrative-territorial areas where there during the process of de-institutionalization of are still homes for medical and social care for social services for children in regional aspect. children, aged 0 to 3 years, while the study The role and function of the social activities period is limited within the last 5 years. are linked to the general process of regional Both regional and social policies are development and highlight the need for a new closely linked because they are an important approach to their understanding, leading to a part of the socio-economic development mixed policy of economic and social progress. of each country. Social policy is a function The sustainability and growth of one country of the power that organizes and governs are related to regional development and society. Regional development is a process, governance. The paper reviews the authors’ and regional policy offers its impact studies related to the problems and risks in instruments to reduce inter-regional and the process of de-institutionalization of social intra-regional disparities in economic, social services for children in a regional aspect. and territorial terms, to provide conditions Social support in Bulgaria is implemented for accelerated economic growth and a high in two forms: benefits and services in level of employment, as well as to ensure the municipalities. It is linked to the address development of territorial cooperation. 1The registration and is regulated by the Local Self- more reformist the public authority is, the Government and Local Administration Act of more expanding is the field of social policy. 1991. The regional and municipal strategies take into account the needs for social Literature review services at the municipal level, in particular, The timeliness of the process of what kind of social services are needed, what deinstitutionalization of social services for their quality is and which target groups should children raises the need for a thorough study be covered. Conceptual links have been of published theoretical and applied research 1 In accordance with the objectives of the state policy for regional development established by the Regional Development Act, prom. SG, No. 50 of 30 May 2008, amended. am. SG. Issue 58 of July 18, 2017. 457 Deinstitutionalization of Social Services for Children Articles in Bulgaria in the Focus of Regional Development Policy in order to improve the quality of the process begins at a managerial level and is related from a managerial point of view and to to the practice, as some authors summarize. achieve higher efficiency. The problems in the The direction of its conduct is from top to scientific literature are analyzed mainly from a bottom and outwards (Mianatkova, 2018, pedagogical or psychological point of view, so p.24). The planning and construction of each it is important to consider deinstitutionalization separate administrative unit must correspond as a complex and specific process that leads to the structural boundaries, requirements, to changes in the policies pursued by different parameters and specificities characteristic of sectors. This article attempts to explore the the socio-economic processes themselves interaction of regional development and (Dokova, 2012, p. 35). deinstitutionalization processes in the context Social policy is at the heart of the of improving regional policy and the regional development and governance of each country. dimension of modern social policy in Bulgaria. The basis on which the regulatory framework is Both regional and social policies are being developed and the existing and relevant closely linked because they are an important aspects of the area under consideration are part of the socio-economic development a number of international documents, among of each country. The main objective of the which the United Nations Convention on Europe 2020 strategy is “more jobs and better Human Rights and United Nations Convention living standards”. Social policy is a function of on Children Rights that Bulgaria have ratified. power that organizes and governs society. The Social policy must be in line with the reality more reformist the public authority is, the more and conditions of the country in which it is social policy field is expanded. In general, the to apply, and therefore it must necessarily social policy is a set of regulatory impacts be adapted from the history and the foreign of the state (the district, the municipality) in order to ensure equality and justice within the experience (Mianatkova, 2018, p.19). economic capacity of society in meeting the Social policy is a set of management basic vital needs of the people (Hristov, 2005, activities undertaken by social institutions p. 5). to regulate the relationships between social The mutual interdependence of regional groups and individuals in terms of meeting development and social policy can be found their basic vital interests, reducing social in the financing of the deinstitutionalization inequality and achieving social security for all of social services, where there is a citizens. It is a policy of social development, coordinated use of funds from different management of the whole living conditions, operational programs and funds - OPHRD, not just helping the fallen citizens in need the Regional Development OP and the (Angelova, 2008, p.81). In general terms, the Rural Development Program. That way, nature of social services is limited to helping investment in infrastructure (funded by the a certain group of people to lead a life of their European Regional Development