1. Supporting the family, as the best environment for any childUNICEF works to build a system of services to support families with children, decreasing the number of ‘social orphans’ (children not living with their families but who actually have at least one living parent) and decreasing the number of residential institutions (children’s homes and orphanages). UNICEF supports a number of organizations (governmental and non-governmental) which develop and test new approaches to strengthen family support services. We also support services to protect street children and children living in shelters, with the aim of reintegrating them in their families and communities or into alternative family environments. Some projects supported by UNICEF address the needs of children ‘graduating’ from institutional care and finding themselves totally at a loss as independent adults. Support to these young people at this crucial transition stage can prevent a vicious cycle of vulnerable young adults having children whom they are unable to look after and who become the next generation of children in institutional care. Children with disabilities are often institutionalized for lack of care and development support to families and lack of education opportunities in normal schools. Early intervention and support for such children is crucial to enable them to stay in their families, and it also prevents more severe disabilities from developing. UNICEF supports organizations developing early intervention services. These children also have a right to grow up in a family. This year, UNICEF initiated a comprehensive assessment of Russia’s efforts towards decreasing institutionalized childcare. The assessment looks at both “inflows” and “outflows” from institutions, and makes recommendations for how the process can be accelerated, while ensuring the child is safe and his/her rights are properly protected. While alternative family placement has become a major goal in Russia (taking children out of residential institutions), the number of children going into institutions has not gone down! Giving appropriate and timely support to biological families has not had nearly enough attention.
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