The frame-regulation on professional parental assistance service, which regulates this kind of children’s family placement, entered in force with its publication in Friday’s issue of the Official Gazette on December 21. The regulation establishes the categories of children that can enjoy professional parental assistance. These are children that are temporarily or permanently separated from their families, their special needs can not be ensured by the biological family, children that are or can become victims of violence, human trafficking, abandon or negligence, children younger than 14 years that have committed crimes but cannot be tried owing to their age, or minors aged 14-18 that were tried for crimes and whose prison sentences have been conditionally suspended. Children approved for placement in the professional assistant’s family will receive a lump-sum allowance at placement and a lump-sum benefit when they reach legal age, while their guardians - monthly child benefits and monthly allowances for clothing and footwear. Professional parental assistants will also receive monthly salaries similar to those paid to social assistants. Allowances and salaries will be paid from the budgets of administrative-territorial units, special funds, grants, donations and other sources. The regulation also stipulates the organisation and functioning of the service, the procedure for the selection of parental assistants, their rights and responsibilities, appraisal of their activity, the management of the service. The document also includes the procedure for settling complaints and representing children’s interests. Professional parental assistance is an alternative service to institutionalisation, children being temporarily placed in families. The aim of the service is the temporary protection of children in difficulty, their reintegration in the society and in their biological families, extended or foster families. This service is offered at the local level and is being formed within the district section of social assistance and family protection. The parental assistance service was developed by means of pilot projects in the Chisinau municipality, Cahul, Orhei and Ungheni districts. At the moment, there are 45 families of professional parental assistants in the country, 60 children under placement, of whom 27 were successfully reintegrated in their biological families.