The MASTER European Policy Network is proud to present the publication “The Road to Independence: Empowerment and Integration of Children and Youth” created as a contribution to a better understanding of the situation of adolescents without parental care and youth from socio-economically disadvantaged families in Montenegro.
Although significant progress has been made during the last decade and the number of children in institutional accommodation has decreased by 58%, and the number of children under the age of three by as much as 97%, the transition to independent living is still a serious challenge. Young people who leave institutions and foster families face numerous obstacles: insufficient preparation for the labor market, limited income, lack of adequate housing solutions and limited access to psychosocial support.
The publication provides an overview of the international and European legal framework, national policies and practices, as well as examples of good solutions from EU member states (France, Denmark and Spain). The special value of the analysis is in the clear and comprehensive recommendations that indicate the direction of future reforms in Montenegro:
establishment of the “leaving care” program until the age of 26;
development of individual transition plans for adolescents from the age of 15 and appointment of personal advisors;
combination of material support and mentoring programs;
quotas for internships and measures for easier entry into the labor market;
free and accessible psychological and social support services;
professionalization of foster care and strengthening of institutional coordination;
establishing a unique information system for monitoring outcomes and involving young people in decision-making processes.
The analysis sends a clear message: in order for young people without parental care and those from vulnerable families to become active and independent members of society, they need continuous and systematic support, not just formal protection until adulthood.
This document was prepared with the financial support of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, through the public competition “Support for children and youth in crisis situations” for the year 2024.
You can download the publication here: