IPS about Romania: State Grows Up in Looking After Children

Inter Press Service presents and article by Claudia Ciobanu on the reform of child care system in Romania.
Main element of the transformation, which started in 2001, was the switch from placing children in care institutions to finding them a place in a more family-type units or with a foster family.

In 2004, new legislation, aiming at promotion of family-type care, was passed. According to "Child Welfare in Romania" study, conducted by the Ministry of Labour, Social Solidarity and Family in 2006, between 2000 and 2005 more than 200 houses and more than 300 apartments nationwide were transformed into family-type placement centres for children in difficulty. Although major improvements are visible, there are still areas where a lot of work needs to be done. The main problem remains a lack of qualified personnel.

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