1. ISS-Bulgaria introduced for the first time in Bulgaria a new concept to prepare care leavers over 16 years of age for independent living. Through “Protected living space” (special arranged space like small apartment for care leavers in the specialized institution in Sevlievo, Lovech and Veliko Turnovo) ISS created conditions for practical training for independent living. At the end of 2007 this concept was included in the Regulation for Implementation of the Social Assistance Act as a new social service named Transition home.
2. A new type of social service for professional support and accompaniment of care leavers after leaving the institutions in their way to independent life was developed in the municipalities of Sevlievo, Lovech and Veliko Turnovo and it found its place in the Regulation for Implementation of the Social Assistance Act as a new social service named Observed home.
3. New social services for children and families are successfully developed in the Complex of social services in municipality of Targovishte in the following areas:
- prevention of child abandons and placement in institutions,
- prevention of school drop-out,
- prevention of child delinquency and violence against children
- reintegration in the family environment
- foster care and adoption
ISS-Bulgaria supported the municipalities of Veliko Tarnovo, Smolyan, Drjanovo and Ljaskovetc to develop such services.
4. ISS- Bulgaria has provided services for children who, as unaccompanied minors and / or victims of trafficking, have been returned to the country in the first established Crisis centre for children victims of trafficking in Bulgaria.
5. Over 300 professionals working in specialized institutions for children were trained in the “life skills” approach; more than 150 young people aged over 15 years in institutions have received training in skills for independent living.
6. As a provider of social services for children and families in 2010 ISS-Bulgaria employs 58 professionals - 43 in the social services in the Complexes of social services for children and families in Targovishte and Sevlievo and 17 – in the Regional centres for foster care in Smolyan, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo and Targovishte.