UNICEF welcomes adoption of new strategy to realize family-based care for every child

KYIV, 26 November 2024 – Children's right to grow up in a family environment took an important step forward today with the Government of Ukraine approving a four-year strategy and related action plan to prioritize family-based care in line with global best practices. 

The ‘Strategy for Ensuring the Right of Every Child to Grow Up in a Family Environment’ (2024-2028) and initial two-year action plan, represents a transformative shift in the Ukrainian childcare system that puts the rights of some of the most vulnerable children at the center. 

“Families are the cornerstone of a child’s safety, development and well-being,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. “Especially amid war, families remain the bedrock of building children’s resilience and nurturing their development,” added Mammadzade. 

The strategy sets ambitious goals, including reducing the number of children in institutional settings by 30 per cent and working to ensure that 95 per cent of all children in Ukraine are in family-based care by the end of 2028. Particular attention is given to children with disabilities, displaced children, and those with special educational needs, ensuring they receive the tailored support required to thrive. 

This inclusive approach acknowledges the complex challenges families face, particularly amid ongoing war and its effects on displacement, trauma, and socio-economic conditions. 

The comprehensive action plan provides a clear path towards empowering families and communities with the tools and resources they need to best support and care for their children. 

“This initiative is more than just a policy reform, it reflects Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to its children and its future,” said Mammadzade. “UNICEF is proud to stand with Ukraine on this journey, striving toward a nation where every child grows up in a loving and supportive family environment,” added Mammadzade. 

The strategy is core to Ukraine’s ‘Better Care’ reform agenda, led by the government of Ukraine, with support from UNICEF Ukraine and partners. The reform aligns with Ukraine’s commitment to meeting international child welfare standards and focuses on three pillars:

• Strengthening families and keeping them together by investing in social services.

• Expanding and improving family-based alternative care, such as foster care, guardianship, and domestic adoption for children without adequate parental care.

• Reintegrating children in institutions safely into family care, while transforming institutions to provide community services.

UNICEF is committed to working alongside all partners to help these reforms become a reality during these challenging days and to ensure every child in Ukraine can thrive in a safe and supportive family environment.