Study: 8,700 children still live in the placement centers in Romania

Some 8,700 children still live in the placement centers audited by Romanian NGO Homes and Hope for Children (HHC), and, although the majority of children in care are with families or in family style environments, there are big differences between regions. In Braila, Giurgiu and Teleorman counties all the old style placement centers have closed, while in Iasi county, 12 centers are still operating. HHC has published a revealing study on the provision of care and protection of children in Romania. The detailed report looked at eight regions of Romania and comes with recommendations for government, including an appeal to end housing children under state care in large placement centers and instead place children in a family or a family like environment. According to HHC “Most of the children in State care already live in environments resembling family life: 19,004 children are in foster care, 7,029 children live in small family homes and apartments, and 21,033 children are placed in the care of relatives and other members of the family.” HHC, however, would like to see all children under state care in a family environment and hopes the study will provide a basis for a strategy to prevent the separation of children from families and improve the lives of children in Romania's care system. HHC Romania is an internationally recognized NGO, which fights to reform the social child protection system, through national programs. The NGO's mission is to eradicate all old style institutions in the field of child protection in Romania by 2020. editor@romania-insider.com