In many cases, the child protection bodies as well as the courts need information from another country as to be able to take a decision about the child. International cooperation may be needed in cases of placement the child outside the family, in particularly in the family of relatives, close friends or foster family, when these people are living in another country and eventually the child should left Bulgaria and should move to a third state as to live with them.
For instance:
- The mother who is a Bulgarian citizen dies shortly after the birth of the child. Later on, the father dies too. The guardianship body appoints the aunt and the uncle from the father's side as guardians of the child. However, they can just temporarily take care of the girl as they have two own children and their financial situation is not stable. The Child Protection Department would like a social investigation of the sister of the deceased mother and a social report from the respective Portuguese social services as she has shown interest and willingness to take care of her niece. The aunt of the child from the mother's side lives in Portugal.
- A Bulgarian foster family that is taking care of a foster child plans to move and live in Greece. The Child Protection Department asks the International Social Service – Bulgaria for information with respect to the opportunities of the foster family to get support and assistance from the respective Greek social services. The Child Protection Department also requests monitoring of the family in Greece.
How International Social Service - Bulgaria can help
- By making contacts with the respective agencies abroad as to get the information that has been requested by the Child Protection Department or the court. If the referral is made from abroad, the International Social Service - Bulgaria will ask the respective Child Protection Department to collect and provide the requested information.
- By providing consultancy prior to the child is moved from one country to another.
- By providing social reports which serve as the basis for the decision-making.