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Countries throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia struggle to change their childcare systems from one that is predominantly based on large-institution care to one that has a continuum of services and is family-focused. Georgia has shown, in large part, that the laudable goal of ending large-scale institutions for children is possible, including for children under the age of 6 years.
Between 2005 and 2013, the Government in the Republic of Georgia closed 32 large, state-run institutions housing children without adequate family care. Social work was strengthened…
Georgia’s child welfare reform has made important strides over the past eight years focusing largely on ending harmful child institutionalization. The child welfare reform process that started in 2005 is being implemented by the Government of Georgia with support from the international community and local NGOs. This video by Save the Children highlights some of the issues and the work of its project to support the Government in this reform process.
For the long version (12.54 mins) please click here…
Natia’s Story is a personal profile story that illustrates a common theme when families are faced with potentially sick children and are not provided with adequate alternative support services. The piece maintains that Eastern Europe an Central Asia has the highest rates of institutionalized children in the world and that institutionalization often begins at birth.
In many cases, new mothers are often counselled to offer up their children to institutional care. Lacking community services, and facing discrimination from family, friends and medical professionals, mothers and families of sick…
A major ministerial conference on ending the placement of children under three in institutional care was held in Sofia, Bulgaria on 21 and 22 November 2012. Organized by the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria in collaboration with UNICEF, it brought together representatives of twenty governments from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, experts from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, international and local NGOs and the academic world to discuss strategies and emerging good practices to support vulnerable families…