Socially integrated services’ development for children at risk project implemented in Moldova

In six districts of Moldova, including Balti, Floresti, Telenesti, Straseni, Falesti and Hancesti, socially integrated services for vulnerable families and children will be created. These services will be opened within the Government project implemented due to the financial support of UNICEF and TACIS. The action is part of the reform process of the child protection system of Moldova. The deputy minister of Education and Youth, Valentin Crudu, mentioned, within project’s presentation ceremony, that now the most used child protection method is the residential protection, which involves separating the child from his family. According to him, the researches showed that residential protection is very expensive and inefficient. Conditions for children at risk will be created in order to make them to feel like home, within this project, Crudu says. For some of them, familial type centers will be created, and the others will be reintegrated in their families, that will receive financial assistance for taking care of the children. According to the deputy minister of Health and Social Protection, Victor Mandru, supporting the family is the most efficient way to provide children with proper life conditions and to prevent risk situations. „In the majority of cases, gymnasium-boarding schools do not offer social protection services; social protection plans are not set and nothing is done for family reintegration. Thus, the children are not prepared for an independent life and might become unemployed or offenders,” the deputy minister mentioned. UNICEF representative to Moldova Ray Virgilio Torres noted that the project will test the reform process promoted by the Government, first of all in the localities included in the project, and further t in other places, applying the best practices. The main expected result is, according to Ray Virgilio Torres, changing the strategy of Moldova in the area of child protection by strengthening families’ capacities. On Friday, the representatives of districts’ administration, where these services will be created, received a Niva Chevrolet car. The budget of the project „Development of social integrated services for vulnerable families and children at risk” amounts to 2 million dollars and is planned for 2 years, with the gradual upkeep of the centers with the support of the state budget. Moldova has12,000 children living in 68 state institutions. The most frequent causes of their institutionalization is the increasing number of incomplete families (mono-parental) – 26.5% of cases, and the social vulnerable ones – 24.5%, as well as abandoned children – 10.5%.