site.btaPoverty Plays Key Role in Separating Children from Parents: NBU Analysis

Poverty is the most decisive factor in the lives of families leading to the separation of children from their parents, Evgeniya Toneva from the Know-How Centre at New Bulgarian University told BTA. She commented on the findings of a recent study conducted by Coalition Childhood 2025 and analysed by the Know-How Centre.

Poverty is a complex phenomenon which does not involve merely the lack of sufficient financial resources and inadequate living conditions, but also poor health and lack of opportunities for development, as well as purely social constraints, difficult access to public services, marginalization, and - in Bulgaria - discrimination, the expert said. Data suggests that the next significant factor is the health status of parents, including mental health problems, she added.

The study covers the work of social service professionals between 2019 and 2023. Around 1,500 individual cases were analysed.

The study was prompted by the lack of clarity about who the children and parents are that the child protection system works with, and how they end up in the care of the state, the expert said. Toneva added that about 8,400 children live outside their biological families and protection measures have been applied to them. The environment in which people live also has a huge impact on child care, she said. A stable, supportive and conflict-free environment can offset the negative impact of the factors listed and prevent children from being placed in state care, the expert also noted. Conversely, a lack of support, combined with a stress and violence-saturated family and community environment, including discrimination and marginalization, leads to problems and risks for children, the researcher explained.

The Know-How Centre has also been tracking the deinstitutionalisation process for years. Currently, only three of the old orphanages, located in Pleven, Varna and Stara Zagora, are still operating. These are the so-called homes for medical and social care for children aged 0 to 3, Toneva explained.