UNICEF in Action
Policy Development and Family Reintegration – Since 1999, UNICEF has assisted the Government in developing policies to prevent the institutionalization of children, while promoting alternative, family-based child care practices. In particular, UNICEF has supported the government in the development of policies on child protection and deinstitutionalization with operational guidelines - including a plan of action for long- and short-term interventions, the provision of external expertise in the area social service provision, the establishment of alternative out-of-home care services, the creation of a gate-keeping mechanism and the development of a regional capacity-building plan, which is a crucial element for the decentralization process. Major reforms, including the implementation of an action plan to reduce reliance on institutions and to develop community based alternatives, is underway, with an established inter-ministerial commission to direct the transition from residential institutions toward community-based services. The commission, headed by the national coordinator, is now working on the standards of child care to guarantee the quality of care, the more efficient provision of services and to establish the gate-keeping mechanism. As of now, 800 children have been saved from institutionalization or returned to their families. 63 UNICEF-trained social workers continue to support especially vulnerable families in solving their problems and preventing the institutionalization of their children.
Prevention of Infant Abandonment – This project aims to prevent infant abandonment by providing support to single mothers to cope with the social and financial pressures that lead them to abandon their infants. The project has developed and documented new modalities of child care and support to mothers.Since April 2003, social workers have identified 134 mothers at risk of child abandonment; 71 of them were placed at the shelter for single mothers (established within the Infant House in Social workers work closely with the children in the Tbilisi Infant House. They select appropriate cases for reintegration and foster care, assess their needs and accordingly, place the children in foster families or reunite them with their biological parents. The employment service established in cooperation with the shelter aims to assist mothers in coping with social and financial difficulties. Employment service managers and consultants identify the needs and technical skills of project beneficiaries in order to provide targeted assistance to them in upgrading their skills or mastering a trade, thereby preparing and equipping them for prospective employment placement. The employment centre also runs a small Grants and Loans Programme to support small business development. Poverty reduction through employment generation and small business development is being successfully implemented as a means to address the root causes that lead to infant abandonment and, furthermore, warrants the expansion of the project’s implementation. Children in conflict with the law - UNICEF assists the government of Impact The national child protection reform process has been initiated to replace large residential children’s institutions with sustainable child and family friendly community support services. This will facilitate the deinstitutionalization of children and provide alternatives to prevent future placements. The process is supported by major donors and partners such as the EU/TACIS, World Bank, and local and international NGOs such as Every Child and World Vision.The joint efforts of national, local governments, UN agencies and NGOs have resulted in the active participation of all partners and in effective coordination. UNICEF support to the institutional framework has led to effective interaction among sectors and the promotion of children’s rights.
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