The first day of school brings excitement for every child, but also worry – is everything ready, is there breakfast, a snack, a sense of safety? For one large family that recently went through the process of reintegrating children from alternative care back into their biological family, this day could have been a difficult beginning. Instead, it became a reminder that support does not end the moment children return home.
Today, the family was visited by the Director of Foundation Second, Belma Mujezinović, together with Amina Pohara and Vesna Stanišić from the Family and Children Support Service of the Home for Children without Parental Care Sarajevo. During the visit, additional food supplies were provided so that the children could start the new school year with basic security – a full table, a calmer morning, and the feeling that someone is thinking of them.
This visit is part of a broader family support process that began earlier.
Family as a priority: Joint efforts prevent long-term placement of children in institutions
This family is part of the Roma community and, despite difficult living circumstances, shows a strong commitment to their children’s education. The parents regularly cooperate with the school and support services, follow their children’s school responsibilities, and clearly express their wish for their children to have the opportunity for a more stable and secure future through learning. Examples like this break stereotypes and show how crucial family support is in ensuring children remain at home while continuing their education consistently.
Such visits are part of continuous monitoring of families after children return from institutions, because reintegration is not a single event but a process. The goal is to ensure stability, prevent new risks, and provide parents with support as they re-establish their daily family routine.
A particularly emotional part of this story is connected to two girls from the family who, while staying at the Home for Children without Parental Care Sarajevo, used to spend weekends with the Foundation’s director at the Association for Education and Upbringing of Women and Children “Bistri Izvor”, where they socialized with their peers. These visits meant more than outings – they were a space of peace, spiritual support, and a sense of belonging. With their parents’ consent, the girls will continue attending these gatherings in the future, even though the family now lives outside Sarajevo, as such routines are an important support for children during their adjustment to life back home.
This story shows that care for children does not end when the doors of an institution close. True support means being there afterwards – on the first day of school, during the first difficult month, and through every new challenge.
Because the goal is not only for children to return to their family, but to remain there safely, stably, and with dignity.
Foundation Second, in cooperation with the Family and Children Support Service, continues to monitor this family and provide support so that the children can have what every child deserves – a home that lasts.
