Advancing deinstitutionalization and family-based care
Strengthening of family support and reintegration, foster care and care leaving services
Highlights
In Portugal, 72% of children in alternative care live in residential facilities, which can negatively impact their development and life chances. To address this, the government has prioritized deinstitutionalization in its Child Guarantee National Action Plan and National Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2021–2024), aiming to strengthen family support, foster care, and care-leaving services.
Supported by the EU’s Technical Support Instrument, the Social Security Institute, in partnership with UNICEF and the European Commission, is assessing the current care system and developing standards, procedures, and toolkits to transition from residential care to family and community-based care. The project will deliver foster care quality standards, guidance for stakeholders, and capacity-building programs to ensure sustainable reform.
