Moldovan government strengthens social services system for children separated from parents

Chisinau, 04 July /MOLDPRES/ – The Cabinet of Ministers approved at its today meeting the Framework Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Social Service Placement Centre for children separated from parents and the minimum quality standards.

According to the government’s communication and protocol department, the project establishes the purpose, objectives and principles of the service, the beneficiaries of the Centre, the services provided, the organization and functioning of the Centre, the way of financing. However, the approved document will contribute to the strengthening of the specialized social services system, open to the community and focused on the children’s individual needs.

The service is addressed to children separated from their parents, including victims of violence, neglect, exploitation, trafficking and, as the case may be, those with disabilities. The age of children will be between 4 and 18 years of age. Eligible for this type of service are children who can not be placed in the extended family, a family-type home, a foster care service or a community home for children at risk.

The purpose of the Service is provision of the temporary protection to the children separated from parents, family integration and community and social inclusion.

The minimum quality standards for the social service have been correlated with the provisions of the UN Guidelines on Alternative Child Care to ensure and respect the right of the children to grow up in a family environment.

At present, there are 42 temporary and mixed placement centres on the territory of Moldova, the services of which are addressed to children separated from their parents.