ArmInfo. About 92% of children receiving care in boarding schools are in these institutions because of poverty in families. The head of the ministry Zaruhi Batoyan stated this on the eve of the discussions in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, stressing that the realization of the child's right to live in the family is one of the ministry's priorities.
It should be noted that in Armenia there are 6 state orphanages and four boarding schools. In orphanages, 630 children receive care, 70% of whom have disabilities. Four boarding schools receive 260 children. According to the press service of the department, at the invitation of the minister, representatives of large banks and construction companies operating in Armenia participated in the discussions. At the meeting, the program <Platform for Social Responsibility for the Reunification and Strengthening of the Status of Families> and a discussion of possible cooperation were presented.
Zaruhi Batoyan noted that in the field of protecting the rights of children, reforms are being implemented aimed at ensuring the right of the child to live and be raised in the family. It is envisaged to solve this problem through the development of alternative forms of childcare and the deinstitutionalization of round- the-clock childcare facilities, including by ensuring this right for children with disabilities to live in a family environment.
<Taking into account the priority right of the child to live in the family, as well as excluding the possibility of receiving child care due to social problems, the ministry directs all opportunities to help families, while urging partner organizations to join and jointly solve the problems facing families, "said Batoyan. In turn, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zhanna Andreasyan presented to the meeting participants the results of the needs assessment implemented by partner organizations.
Andreasyan also said that the Ministry, together with partner organizations, carried out an in-depth assessment of the needs of children and their families receiving care in boarding schools. <Based on the results of the assessment, further plans were drawn up to support each child and family, according to which it is planned to strengthen families and create all favorable conditions for the full organization of child care in the family. The planned support is carried out according to the principle of participation, getting involved in the sphere of various stakeholders.
Today, out of 260 children receiving care in institutions, 106 returned to the family, and the rest are waiting for support to be able to and a place to return, because there are families in which case the child has nowhere to return>, Andreasyan said.
At the end of the discussion, Batoyan expressed the hope that the program will find supporters in the private sector not only in terms of changing the lives of children, but will also become an example of social responsibility for other companies.