Ophelia Kaneva
Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”
https://doi.org/10.53656/ped2024-6.07
Abstract. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children should be supported and empowered to express their opinion about their future, lifestyle, and everything related to their existence. This is especially important when kids are in foster care, because they are at a disadvantage. So, the understanding about their empowerment in the decision-making process should be
part of the professional qualification, training, rehabilitation, support (as well) at horizontal and hierarchical level for humanitarian professionals. That is why focus groups were organized and held in different geographical regions in Bulgaria during 2021 – 2022, with professionals that are taking care of children with disabilities, abandoned children, gifted children and other children's groups with the aim to understand how professionals understand the process and the right of the child to participate in the decision-making process when part of the social care system.
Keywords: child participation; decision-making; social support; development
