President Milanović Visits Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Centre
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović visited today the Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Centre and held a meeting with the expert team of the facility. President Milanović told reporters that the meeting covered a breadth of issues relating to the mental health of children and youth, especially in light of the earthquakes that struck the country, as well as the prolonged coronavirus crisis.
“This certainly leaves a mark on the mental health of everyone, especially children, and that is above all the topic of discussion. There is a worldwide pandemic of mental disorders. Of course, the criteria are different than 30 years ago, today there is a higher threshold of tolerance and people are more sensitive,” said President Milanović.
“The ladies who work here, the scientists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, along with the occasional man, are themselves exposed to pressure and sometimes even threats, so this is not a harmless job,” the President of the Republic added. Responding to a reporter’s question about how much the state can help such institutions, President Milanović emphasized that the state can do a lot with money and understanding.
The Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Centre opened its doors in 2002 with the aim of effectively and systematically assisting abused and neglected children and their families. The staff of the polyclinic are continuously undergoing professional development.
The Centre harnesses experiences from all over the world, ensuring that every child benefits from a specialized team approach and from the most efficient and humane solution to his or her particular challenge, all with the aim of providing better protection for children. Therefore, the polyclinic has received acclaim for setting the example in its approach to working with children and has been presented with the 2008 ISPCAN Council of Europe Award for efforts by its multidisciplinary team, in competition with institutions from 180 countries.
The following individuals attended the meeting with the President of the Republic at the Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Centre: Romana Galić, Sociology Specialist, Head of the Municipal Office for Social Welfare and Persons with Disabilities and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Centre; Assoc. Prof. Gordana Buljan Flander, Ph. D., Director of the Zagreb Child and Youth Protection Centre; Asst. Prof. Sc. D. Vanja Slijepčević Saftić, Deputy Director; Asst. Prof. Vlatka Boričević Maršanić, Ph. D., M.D.; Renata Ćorić Špoljar, Ph. D., Assistant Director for Health Care Quality; Nikolina Škrlec, Head of Diagnostics and Treatment; Prof. Dora Kralj, social worker and social pedagogue; Zdravko Miočević, legal adviser; Mia Roje Đapić, Head of the Youth Committee; Lea Zelić, member of the Youth Committee.
Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković was alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić