DGAIA workers demand a voice in the reform of the protection system

BarcelonaA new one DGPPIA (the acronym for the General Directorate for the Prevention and Protection of Children and Adolescents, which replaces the DGAIA)) less privatized and with greater participation by workers in centers for children under the care of the Generalitat (Catalan government). These were two of the demands raised this Tuesday by the CGT and CATAC unions at a rally outside the institution's headquarters. They also denounced the reform plans presented by the Ministry of Social Rights and Inclusion as nothing more than "a smokescreen" to keep things as they are. The event brought together fifty educators, one day before Minister Mònica Martínez Bravo appears before a parliamentary committee to explain the changes to the system.

At the rally, Robert Morral, CGT union delegate for social services, denounced the fact that the DGPPIA is being built on the foundations of the former DGAIA, without even correcting problems that have been occurring in the centers for years. For example, the escapes of minors in care (escapes, in the jargon of the sector) due to a lack of emotional support for the children due to a shortage of professionals. Or the fact that large residential homes with 40 or 50 places are still open. "It's an unsustainable situation; It cannot be reformulated with the same people who caused the damage", the unionist stressed.

On the contrary, Morral has proposed that the regional ministry invite workers to sit at the table so they can have their say in the design of the new protection model because they are the ones who know firsthand what weaknesses the system has that need to be addressed. Among these improvements are strengthening prevention with families and children at the same time to verify the relationship between them. In this regard, social workers and educators explain that the overload of files for minors under surveillance often makes it impossible to properly monitor and support families because basic social services are completely overwhelmed and can only provide adequate care.

250 new private centers

According to the unions, one of the major problems facing the protection network is excessive outsourcing to foundations and private entities that, despite presenting themselves as non-profit, "make money" off the vulnerability and poverty of children in care. The current number of organizations is down, while more than 250 private ones have opened.

The union leader attributed this situation to the fact that the associations bidding for contracts involving children in care belong to people "with ties to some government parties," highlighting especially the case of Ricard Calvo, the former head of contracting for an entity where he had worked and was on leave. Despite this accusation, Calvo has not been convicted of any wrongdoing and is once again leading the organization. The number of transfers to the protected minors is subject to advance notice.

Without protection delegate

As for the case of the minor who suffered abuse While she was attached to a DGAIA center, she recalled that nine years ago, following another high-profile case, it was agreed to create the position of a delegate for protection against violence in the centers, but "today it has still not been implemented," she lamented.

On the other hand, around fifty families with children under the care of the administration have demanded this Tuesday the abolition of the DGPPIA, whom they accuse of "kidnapping" minors without taking into account psychological or school reports that are in favor of the child staying at home.