Support for families in a difficult situation, incentives to make decisions on procreation, help measures with regards to combining professional work and parental duties, and creating conditions for the childhood in Poland to be happy and safe are the main challenges undertaken by the government for the sake of children and families. Holidays related to having babies have been prolonged, and the system of caring for children up to the age of three, making it easier to return to work after the child has been born, was drawn up. A system of helping families which are incapable of providing children with happy and safe childhood has been set in motion. Regulations more effectively protecting kids from violence and paedophilia are in place. Schools all over Poland are provided with common rooms and playgrounds. There are also more and more facilities constructed within the framework of the government programme “My Sports Field– Orlik 2012”.
Longer Holidays after Childbirth
Since January 2009 maternity leaves have been prolonged and in 2010 they were divided into two parts: basic and additional. In line with the basic part, mothers are entitled to a 20 week leave after giving birth to one child, and to a 31-37 week leave in case of a multiple pregnancy. The additional part of the holiday amounts to 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. Over the consecutive years – 2012 and 2013 – the additional maternity leave will be gradually prolonged to reach - in 2014 - six weeks for one child and 8 weeks for more. On January 1, 2010, the right to a leave connected with a child being born has also been granted to fathers. At present, the fraternity leave lasts 1 week. From 2012 onwards, it will be made longer by another week.
Day Nursery Act
In February 2011 the government passed the act on childcare up to the age of 3, thanks to which day nurseries are no longer treated as healthcare facilities. As a result the premise and sanitary requirements associated with their establishment have been lessened. Day nurseries may be established by communes, natural persons, legal persons or other entities, for instance, associations. As part of the "Toddler" programme the government will subsidize the establishment of commune-operated nurseries until 2013.
Kid clubs
The Day Nursery Act stipulates establishment of kid clubs for children between the age of one and three years. The maximum daily care time is 5 hours. Parents may participate in activities run by the clubs. Establishment of the clubs will also be subsidized as part of the "Toddler" programme
Daycare teacher
Based on the same act the communes will announce competitions for the post of a daycare teacher. After a 160-hour training the teacher may be a mother who has a small child and is able to take care of children in her neighbourhood. These persons are supposed to look after the children at their homes or at a facility provided by the commune. The daycare teacher is supposed to look after a maximum of five children, depending on the size of the facility.
Subsidization of baby sitters
It will be easier to hire baby sitters starting in 2011. The parents just must sign an activation contract with the baby sitter and register her with the Social Insurance Institution. The government will subsidize the baby sitter's salary by paying her social and health insurance contributions calculated on the minimum salary. If the baby sitter's salary is higher than the minimum salary, the parents will pay the difference in the contribution. The regulations will take effect in a few months.
Counteracting Family Violence
Every year, between 2005 and 2006, more than 150 thousand people, including children, fell victim to domestic violence. In spite of the fact that these numbers dropped to over 130 thousand a year over the consecutive years, they are still very high. It was necessary to introduce some changes into the applicable regulations, allowing for the implementation of effective measures against this phenomenon and better protection for the violence victims. The amendment to the act on counteracting family violence became effective in August 2010. Its provisions include: the corporal punishment ban, free of charge forensic examination performed by the general practitioner (the prosecutor’s order being no longer necessary), and the possibility of immediately taking the child away from a house threatened with violence. Moreover, courts may now forbid perpetrators to approach the victims or contact them. They may also order the guilty party to leave the premises no matter whether it owns them or not.
Harsh Penalties for Paedophiles
The government is set on counteracting paedophilia. There has been a new law since 2010, making the penalties for paedophiles much harsher. Raping a child below the age of 15 has been recognized as a crime punishable by 3-15 years of imprisonment. Establishing Internet or telephone contact with a child, leading to the commitment of a crime against sexual freedom is punishable by imprisonment up to 3 years. Perpetrators of rape on children or incestuous rape will be subject to compulsory treatment in a closed institution or clinic. Upon leaving prison, the other persons sentenced for paedophilia may also be subject to such treatment. There are also works underway to implement a system of the electronic supervision of people sentenced for paedophilia once their prison term has ended.
Help for Families with Problems
In September 2010, the act on supporting families and the supplementary custody system was passed. Most pressure has been put on prevention and working with families calling for particular care. Support will be provided mainly to families suffering from violence and poverty. The families will be offered consultancy, mediation, family therapy, and training courses in educational and therapeutic skills. The family work will be performed directly by family assistants cooperating with their interdisciplinary teams. Moreover, the supporting families and day support centres will help the troubled families as well.
Surrogate Families instead of Children’s Homes
As a result of the foregoing act, surrogate families will become the basic place for the upbringing of children deprived of their biological parents. The act stipulates serious limitations in the roles played by children’s homes. Children will be placed in children’s homes only after it has turned impossible to keep them in their biological families, make them part of a surrogate family or leave them in a family owned children’s home. As a target, children’s homes should take care of kids over 10 or those requiring specialist medical care due to their health condition. Much attention will be paid to the development, as well as expert and financial support of surrogate families and family owned children’s homes. Foster children of age – regardless of their income – will receive financial support to continue their education, dependent on the revenue criterion set at the level of PLN 1200. They may also count on state help offered to them so that they become self-dependent, as well as the support provided by family assistants and surrogate custody coordinators.
Extra Food for Schoolchildren
To help children coming from families with a difficult financial situation, the government keeps running the programme under which kids get free hot meals at schools. It has simplified the procedures for qualifying for such a meal. For example it is no longer necessary to conduct environment interviews, and children do not have to prove any more that they are hungry. Today, school principals may take independent decisions in this regard.
Financial Support for Families
Family allowance amounts have risen by more than 40%, while benefits given to family caretakers of the disabled needing particular help by 24%. Since January 2010, the income criterion, treated in terms of a condition for granting care benefits, has been abolished.
Set of Schoolbooks
The “Set of Schoolbooks” programme is being carried out. Each year, over 550 thousand schoolchildren, from families living in dire straits, are entitled to financial help earmarked for the purchase of schoolbooks. Support is also provided to the disabled and handicapped children. More than PLN 100 million is allocated in this area every year.
Playgrounds in Primary Schools
The government programme called “Joyful School” was created for the youngest students. It stipulates financial support for building playgrounds and equipping playing spots in primary schools with didactic tools. PLN 2.5 billion has been planned to be spent on this programme until 2014. The financial contribution of schools amounts to 50% of costs necessary for setting up playing spots, while the cost of purchasing didactic tools is financed in its entirety by the state budget, up to PLN 6 or 12 thousand, depending on the number of students in grades I-III.
In 2009, 8892 applications for the financing of the didactic tools purchase and playing spots arrangement were submitted. Out of PLN 40 million allocated for this edition of the programme 4957 schools (3976 countryside schools) were provided with the support. In 2010, 8617 applications were handed in. According to the allocation of funds, performed by the province governors, in 2010 more than 1200 playgrounds close to primary schools were created (60% in the countryside).
Construction of “Orliks” (eng. Eaglets)
Another programme the government is carrying out is the construction of sports fields, the so-called Eaglets. It was approved in 2008. By 2012, there should be over 2 thousand sports complexes that shall include two sports fields: one soccer field and one multi-functional field for basketball and volleyball. In addition, each facility shall be provided with social and sanitary facilities with locker rooms. 1528 such fields have already been built in different communities all over Poland.
Longer Holidays after Childbirth
Since January 2009 maternity leaves have been prolonged and in 2010 they were divided into two parts: basic and additional. In line with the basic part, mothers are entitled to a 20 week leave after giving birth to one child, and to a 31-37 week leave in case of a multiple pregnancy. The additional part of the holiday amounts to 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. Over the consecutive years – 2012 and 2013 – the additional maternity leave will be gradually prolonged to reach - in 2014 - six weeks for one child and 8 weeks for more. On January 1, 2010, the right to a leave connected with a child being born has also been granted to fathers. At present, the fraternity leave lasts 1 week. From 2012 onwards, it will be made longer by another week.
Day Nursery Act
In February 2011 the government passed the act on childcare up to the age of 3, thanks to which day nurseries are no longer treated as healthcare facilities. As a result the premise and sanitary requirements associated with their establishment have been lessened. Day nurseries may be established by communes, natural persons, legal persons or other entities, for instance, associations. As part of the "Toddler" programme the government will subsidize the establishment of commune-operated nurseries until 2013.
Kid clubs
The Day Nursery Act stipulates establishment of kid clubs for children between the age of one and three years. The maximum daily care time is 5 hours. Parents may participate in activities run by the clubs. Establishment of the clubs will also be subsidized as part of the "Toddler" programme
Daycare teacher
Based on the same act the communes will announce competitions for the post of a daycare teacher. After a 160-hour training the teacher may be a mother who has a small child and is able to take care of children in her neighbourhood. These persons are supposed to look after the children at their homes or at a facility provided by the commune. The daycare teacher is supposed to look after a maximum of five children, depending on the size of the facility.
Subsidization of baby sitters
It will be easier to hire baby sitters starting in 2011. The parents just must sign an activation contract with the baby sitter and register her with the Social Insurance Institution. The government will subsidize the baby sitter's salary by paying her social and health insurance contributions calculated on the minimum salary. If the baby sitter's salary is higher than the minimum salary, the parents will pay the difference in the contribution. The regulations will take effect in a few months.
Counteracting Family Violence
Every year, between 2005 and 2006, more than 150 thousand people, including children, fell victim to domestic violence. In spite of the fact that these numbers dropped to over 130 thousand a year over the consecutive years, they are still very high. It was necessary to introduce some changes into the applicable regulations, allowing for the implementation of effective measures against this phenomenon and better protection for the violence victims. The amendment to the act on counteracting family violence became effective in August 2010. Its provisions include: the corporal punishment ban, free of charge forensic examination performed by the general practitioner (the prosecutor’s order being no longer necessary), and the possibility of immediately taking the child away from a house threatened with violence. Moreover, courts may now forbid perpetrators to approach the victims or contact them. They may also order the guilty party to leave the premises no matter whether it owns them or not.
Harsh Penalties for Paedophiles
The government is set on counteracting paedophilia. There has been a new law since 2010, making the penalties for paedophiles much harsher. Raping a child below the age of 15 has been recognized as a crime punishable by 3-15 years of imprisonment. Establishing Internet or telephone contact with a child, leading to the commitment of a crime against sexual freedom is punishable by imprisonment up to 3 years. Perpetrators of rape on children or incestuous rape will be subject to compulsory treatment in a closed institution or clinic. Upon leaving prison, the other persons sentenced for paedophilia may also be subject to such treatment. There are also works underway to implement a system of the electronic supervision of people sentenced for paedophilia once their prison term has ended.
Help for Families with Problems
In September 2010, the act on supporting families and the supplementary custody system was passed. Most pressure has been put on prevention and working with families calling for particular care. Support will be provided mainly to families suffering from violence and poverty. The families will be offered consultancy, mediation, family therapy, and training courses in educational and therapeutic skills. The family work will be performed directly by family assistants cooperating with their interdisciplinary teams. Moreover, the supporting families and day support centres will help the troubled families as well.
Surrogate Families instead of Children’s Homes
As a result of the foregoing act, surrogate families will become the basic place for the upbringing of children deprived of their biological parents. The act stipulates serious limitations in the roles played by children’s homes. Children will be placed in children’s homes only after it has turned impossible to keep them in their biological families, make them part of a surrogate family or leave them in a family owned children’s home. As a target, children’s homes should take care of kids over 10 or those requiring specialist medical care due to their health condition. Much attention will be paid to the development, as well as expert and financial support of surrogate families and family owned children’s homes. Foster children of age – regardless of their income – will receive financial support to continue their education, dependent on the revenue criterion set at the level of PLN 1200. They may also count on state help offered to them so that they become self-dependent, as well as the support provided by family assistants and surrogate custody coordinators.
Extra Food for Schoolchildren
To help children coming from families with a difficult financial situation, the government keeps running the programme under which kids get free hot meals at schools. It has simplified the procedures for qualifying for such a meal. For example it is no longer necessary to conduct environment interviews, and children do not have to prove any more that they are hungry. Today, school principals may take independent decisions in this regard.
Financial Support for Families
Family allowance amounts have risen by more than 40%, while benefits given to family caretakers of the disabled needing particular help by 24%. Since January 2010, the income criterion, treated in terms of a condition for granting care benefits, has been abolished.
Set of Schoolbooks
The “Set of Schoolbooks” programme is being carried out. Each year, over 550 thousand schoolchildren, from families living in dire straits, are entitled to financial help earmarked for the purchase of schoolbooks. Support is also provided to the disabled and handicapped children. More than PLN 100 million is allocated in this area every year.
Playgrounds in Primary Schools
The government programme called “Joyful School” was created for the youngest students. It stipulates financial support for building playgrounds and equipping playing spots in primary schools with didactic tools. PLN 2.5 billion has been planned to be spent on this programme until 2014. The financial contribution of schools amounts to 50% of costs necessary for setting up playing spots, while the cost of purchasing didactic tools is financed in its entirety by the state budget, up to PLN 6 or 12 thousand, depending on the number of students in grades I-III.
In 2009, 8892 applications for the financing of the didactic tools purchase and playing spots arrangement were submitted. Out of PLN 40 million allocated for this edition of the programme 4957 schools (3976 countryside schools) were provided with the support. In 2010, 8617 applications were handed in. According to the allocation of funds, performed by the province governors, in 2010 more than 1200 playgrounds close to primary schools were created (60% in the countryside).
Construction of “Orliks” (eng. Eaglets)
Another programme the government is carrying out is the construction of sports fields, the so-called Eaglets. It was approved in 2008. By 2012, there should be over 2 thousand sports complexes that shall include two sports fields: one soccer field and one multi-functional field for basketball and volleyball. In addition, each facility shall be provided with social and sanitary facilities with locker rooms. 1528 such fields have already been built in different communities all over Poland.