From Social Innovation Project to Regular Service: The First Three Years. The Sure Start Children’s House Service in Hungary - Acta Universitatis Sapientiae

Acta Univ. Sapientiae, Legal Studies, 13, 2 (2024) 181–196

DOI: 10.47745/AUSLEG.2024.13.2.10

Abstract. This study examines the development of the Sure Start Children’s House service funded by the European Social Fund in Hungary. The topic has become relevant, especially as the Sure Start Children’s House service has become part of the Hungarian social care and services system after almost 10 years of being a pilot and multi-cycle EU-funded project-based operation. The analysis in this article is based the strategic documents, project content, and legislative changes relevant to the service. Over the past two decades, several strategy documents have identified the challenges and development tasks for Roma children with social disadvantages, especially during preschool years. The sustainability of projects for alleviating child poverty has been brought to the fore under several aspects as projects have progressed and terminated, which is why it is significant that the Sure Start Children’s House has become part of the child protection system since 2013, building on previous project experiences. The integration of this service into the national care system took place at the same time as increased support from the central budget provided the opportunity for a social innovation project to become a sustainable service, thus maintaining the initial results.

Keywords: social innovation, disadvantaged children, child protection and care system, social service design, social service system