The placing of children younger than three in residential institutions must be the last possible option and an absolutely necessary measure for protecting the interest of the child in the first instance. In any circumstances, the connection with the biological family must be ensured, stated Barbara Jamar, Chief Child Protection at UNICEF Moldova, quoted by IPN.
In an event that centered on the reformation of the residential childcare system, the UNICEF representative said the children younger than three must not be placed in residential institutions. If they remain without parental care, they should better be included in emergency services or a placement service, but for not more than six months.
Barbara Jamar said a challenge for Moldova should be not only the emptying of the residential institutions intended for children aged between 0 and 3, but also the prevention of cases of abandonment. For the purpose, the problems that can lead to abandonment should be detected early, including during pregnancy or after the birth of the child. Support should be also provided to both of the parents and to single mothers. The family friends and relatives play an important role in the prevention of abandonment. They should support the parents during the first months of life of the child.
Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Viorica Dumbraveanu said that a set of measures designed to ensure the child’s natural right to grow in the family were worked out at governmental level and the implementation steps are to be decided. “We developed alternative family-type services and mechanisms to prevent the institutionalization of children, but we still have children aged between 0 and 3 in the residential system. We have some principled measures aimed at supporting the local public authorities by developing alternative, family-type services, in conditions of financial decentralization,” she stated.
The authorities aim to identify the needs of the children in residential institutions, including children with disabilities, so as to adjust the existing normative framework together with the development partners.
Delia Pop, Director of Programs and Global Advocacy at Hope and Homes for Children Romania, said the organization she represents has worked for over 20 years to eliminate the residential institutions with programs on four continents. “I can tell you that the institutions aren’t necessary, that a child protection system can be developed to support the child at home only and the family and to offer an alternative quality system based on the conception of family. Another thing that I want to tell you is that you have a special chance here, in Moldova, to be one of the European countries that eliminate the institutionalization of children younger than three and to show the world that it is possible to set an example that can inspire other countries,” stated Delia Pop.
Program manager at the Child, Community, Family Moldova (CCF Moldova) Livia Marginean said most of the families are able to take care of their children, but sometimes they need assistance from the state and the state should focus its intervention in the family more on support rather than on punishment.
About 12,000 children of all ages were in residential institutions in Moldova ten years ago. By concerted effort, this figure was decreased to over 2,000 children in 2015.
