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Is the IAPRS a Portuguese institution?
Yes, the Algarve Project Institute for Social Rehabilitation is an institution for social cohesion and inclusion, which is registered in Portugal, where the sphere of its operations covers the whole country.

What public group is it aimed at?
It is aimed at children and young people between the ages of 12 and 16 who are at risk and owing to past history are inclined towards criminal delinquency. These young people whose family background suffers the effects of economic deprivation, as well as emotionally destabilising factors, exposing the child to ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse. These children come from dysfunctional families, often demonstrating atypical social behaviour, whose life style and past life experiences make the possibility of group integration in the first phase impractical.

Where is the programme carried out?
The IAPRS facilities are located in Cumeada in the Municipality of Silves. All the support specialist team, who make up the Association, are based there. However, the young people live with foster care families.

How long is a young person expected to stay on the programme?
The length of the programme varies, but generally runs for two to three years.

At the end of the support programme, what happens to the young person?
Our intervention programme as a social project has its limits, starting when the young person arrives and ending when he/she finishes the programme. From that moment, he/she becomes the responsibility of Children’s Services which will continue to support the young person.

What sort of support does the young person have during this programme?
The young person is permanently supported 24 hours a day by the foster care family. He/she is further supported once a fortnight by the Coordinator of the Programme, the IAPRS specialist. There is a six-monthly review meeting with all those involved in the programme of the young person – host families, specialists, and officials responsible for Children’s Services. The general objectives are to re-educate the young person in a family setting, based on the principles of respect and responsibility, education and specific targeted activities linked to each individual.

How is schooling carried out?
Normally it is done through distance-learning but, depending on the situation, the young person can attend a state or private school.