Crisis intervention is the implementation of a complex and multi-component emergency psychological care programme in the event of critical/stressful events. It combines appropriate guidance, skilful listening, empathy, reassurance and instilling confidence as well as giving appropriate practical advice. Crisis intervention is applied in the presence of traumatic events, such as - natural disasters, accidents, death of a loved one, etc. Objects of crisis intervention can be injured children and their relatives, eyewitnesses, staff involved in rescue actions, colleagues. The State Agency for Child Protection has a team of trained external specialists - expert psychologists who provide crisis support.
The goals of crisis intervention are aimed at reducing the impact of the crisis event, reducing the impact of traumatic stress, and accelerating the recovery of the children's normal rhythm of life. Children in need of follow-up care are also identified through crisis intervention.
In all Child Protection Departments of the Social Assistance Directorate, the Head of Department is available. He notifies the State Agency for Child Protection within 1 hour by phone or fax to organize the crisis intervention group. Professionals from this group should provide emergency psychological assistance to children when a critical situation occurs.
The multidisciplinary crisis team includes an on-call social worker from the Child Protection Department, an on-call police officer, an on-call judge, a prosecutor, an on-call doctor, a social service for crisis accommodation, an on-call employee in the municipal administration, a principal or a class teacher - representatives of schools. The child and family support professional from the crisis intervention group, or a member of the crisis intervention team, should encourage the child and his/her relatives to participate in specific activities.
A crisis intervention action plan should be composed of short-term objectives and simplified actions. It is important in crisis intervention that the child/children have contact with family, friends and a school plan can be developed to support the child/children affected by their peers, which includes activities where they can express their thoughts and feelings. Each of the members of the multidisciplinary team identifies and proposes to the rest of the team specific tasks on the case to be carried out in accordance with their own powers, in accordance with the legal framework.
The State Agency for Child Protection continues to observe the rights and interests of all children in the Republic of Bulgaria and is ready to provide immediate assistance and support to children in need and their families, relatives and professionals working with children.