The Social Activities and Practices Institute is an organisation with experience in providing services for children and families. SAPI is an NGO registered according to the Social Support Act for providing social services: home for temporary placement and social rehabilitation and integration. The organisation is registered as a collector of personal data according to the Personal Data Protection Act. The Centre for youth probation and social activity in Gabrovo started their work in October 2003 with the aim to provide community-based social services for children. The Centre was established as a result of the implementation of the 'Children in conflict with the law' project by the 'Social Activities and Practices Institute' Association, 'Open Society' Institute, UNDP, 'Partners - Bulgaria' Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Justice. The team received five-module training:

• The child and the family, reasons for deviant behaviour;
• Needs assessment of young offenders;
• Agreeing and planning the work with young offenders in the community;
• Training for trainers in social skills;
• Specialised programme for social skills.

The permanent staff consists of one coordinator and two assistants. The Centre has group work hall, conference hall, two rooms for individual work, equipped office. The Centre provides the service social-pedagogical counseling for children with deviant behaviour and their parents in family environment. The service provision is based on the principles of international standards for child protection and treating young offenders:

• Focusing on the best interest of the child;
• Individual interventions in casework (needs assessment and work planning of each individual case);
• Developing children's responsibility and self-respect;
• Treating in the community;
• Community involvement;
• Support of the strengths and resources.