The minimum quality standards for the social services provided in mothers’ centers will be in line with the European standards, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a decision made by the Government. “Even if the birth rate in Moldova is decreasing, the number of abandoned children remains still high and therefore we should reorganize and modernize the services so as to prevent abandonment, reduce the number of children left in maternity hospitals, protect them and insure their development,” Minister of Social Protection, Family and Child Galina Balmos said in this connection. The mothers’ centers aim at preventing the abandonment of children by creating a supportive environment for the mother and child in difficulty, developing the mother’s parent abilities and mediating between the members of the family so as to reintegrate the mother and child. Under the Government Decision, the period of staying in a mothers’ center cannot exceed 12 months. A center can accommodate 7- 12 mother-child couples, but not more than 24 persons. The document sets standards for different services provided for the beneficiaries: accommodation; caring; education’ medical, legal, social and psychological assistance. Fifteen minimum quality standards for the services provided in such centers have been fixed overall. The centers can also provide other types of services needed by certain mother-child couples, according to an individualized program of services. The personnel that provide these services should meet the required professional training standards. The decision also includes standards on how to keep records over mother’s behavior while in the center, cases of abuse, the development of the relations with the family and the recommendations made when the mother and child leave the center. Mothers’ centers are designed for mothers coming from families with modest or no incomes that intend to abandon the newborn babies, trafficked and marginalized mothers, mothers with children that do not have a place of their own, mothers with abused children or couples where both the mother and child have been abused, pregnant mothers close to giving birth that encounter financial or relationship problems. The children placed in the center with their mothers are younger than 6. There are eight mothers’ centers in Moldova at present. A stay period in the center last for 6 months on average.