Report of the State Audit Office on child protection.
The State Audit Office of Hungary (ÁSZ) regularly conducts audits on the efficiency and regularity of public spending. The latest audit results were published on November 7, 2024, covering the years 2022 and 2023. The report is particularly timely given the recent revelations of abuse against children in state care.
Child protection in Hungary is a complex system that includes prevention, addressing endangerment, and providing care for children in need. The ÁSZ audits covered all elements of this system, from child welfare services to the foster care network and specialized child protection services.
The ÁSZ reports identified several shortcomings in the child protection system. The audit found that the child protection system focuses too much on addressing existing problems and places too little emphasis on prevention. Early intervention and family support would be crucial in preventing endangerment, but significant improvements are needed in this area.
The investigations also revealed that child welfare services are often overburdened and lack sufficient resources to carry out their tasks. This can negatively affect the quality of services and the protection of children. There is a chronic shortage of professionals in the child protection system, particularly among foster parents, child welfare specialists, and psychologists. This problem also affects the availability and quality of services.
Furthermore, the ÁSZ reports highlighted deficiencies in data and inaccuracies in records within the child protection system, hindering effective planning and interventions. The financing of the child protection system does not always ensure proper operation. The ÁSZ found that additional resources would be needed in certain areas, such as the development of the foster parent network.
The ÁSZ has repeatedly drawn attention to the shortcomings and contradictions in child protection legislation. These issues hinder the effective functioning of the system. The audits also revealed a frequent lack of cooperation between the actors in the child protection system, making effective intervention and child protection difficult.
The ÁSZ report made several recommendations for improving the child protection system. These include developing early intervention programs and family support services; increasing the funding for child welfare services and reducing the shortage of professionals; improving the training of child protection professionals, with particular attention to the training of foster parents, child welfare specialists, and psychologists; improving data collection and record keeping in the child protection system; reviewing the financing system of the child protection system and allocating resources more efficiently; and reviewing child protection legislation and eliminating deficiencies.
The report of the State Audit Office highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the child protection system in Hungary. The implementation of the recommendations made in the report could contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the child protection system and improving the protection of children. It is important that decision-makers take into account the findings and recommendations of the ÁSZ and take the necessary steps to improve the child protection system.
The ÁSZ report also raises a number of further research directions. For example, it would be important to examine the causes of burnout among child protection workers and the possibilities for prevention. Further research is also needed on the mental health and social integration of children living in child protection institutions.
In the meantime, the Minister of Finance has submitted the draft budget for 2025 to Parliament. However, due to the structure of the budget, it is not clear whether there will be sufficient funding for the ÁSZ’s recommendations for 2025, especially in the area of wage development.