Jems
On 3 July 2026, the first training for exchange of experience and practice was held at the Center for Missing and Abused Children in Osijek as part of the MOSAIC cross-border cooperation project between Croatia and Serbia. The initiative aims to strengthen support for children and young people with behavioral difficulties and those in conflict with the law.
The training brought together professionals from Croatia’s Osijek-Baranja County and Serbia’s South Bačka District for a full day of knowledge sharing, professional dialogue, and the exchange of best practices in working with children and young people requiring additional support.
The programme covered a wide range of topics, including the protection of the rights of children and young people with behavioral difficulties, their developmental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics, as well as key risk and protective factors. Particular attention was given to effective communication with young people, understanding non-suicidal self-injury, building trusting relationships, and delivering support through semi-day care services and coordinated intersectoral cooperation among child protection professionals.
The training marks an important step in strengthening professional capacities, fostering collaboration between experts from Croatia and Serbia, and advancing community-based support services. By exchanging knowledge and practical experience, professionals from both cross-border regions are contributing to a deeper understanding of the needs of vulnerable children and young people while developing practical support models that can be implemented in local communities.
The event was organised as part of Activity 1.1 – Training for Exchange of Experience and Practice within the MOSAIC project, implemented under the Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia–Serbia Programme and co-financed by the European Union.
The project is led by the Center for Missing and Abused Children (Novi Sad). Project partners include the Center for Missing and Abused Children (Osijek), the Social Welfare Center of the City of Novi Sad, and the Community Services Center Osijek.
