This issue No. 3-4 is one in a newsletter series concerning care reform in Moldova. The magazine was produced by Partnerships for Every Child (P4EC), an NGO in Moldova, with funding from the project, “Protecting children in Moldova from family separation, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation,” which is funded by USAID/DCOF. In addition to deinstitutionalization and other care reform work in the three raions (districts) of Calarasi, Falesti, and Ungheni, the project is also working at a national level on laws, policies, and procedures regarding child care and protection. The project is funded through EveryChild, and the newsletters have been translated into English by EveryChild.
This issue of the magazine offers opinions, analysis, and updates from the most important local and central actors and decision makers in the child protection field in Moldova. The newsletter features a news item about the recently completed draft of the Child and Family Protection Strategy for the Republic of Moldova 2012-2020. The three objectives of this draft, according to the article, are: to focus on the creation of necessary conditions for the raising and education of children in the family environment; to prevent and combat child abuse, neglect, and exploitation, promoting non-violent practices in children’s up-bringing and education; and to ensure family consultation, securing the child’s harmonious growth and development. This issue of the newsletter also contains an article on the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Family’s submission of a framework for the Regulation of Family Support Service to the Moldovan Government. Family support service is a service delivered to families with children and is designed to help prevent institutionalization of children. The regulation of this service will be a normative act for local public authorities, covering the creation and development of this service nationally, according to the article.
Another article in this issue suggests that local public authorities will soon create psycho-pedagogical services for children and parents, specifically geared toward children with learning disabilities and other difficulties. The funds for this service were included into the 2013 state budget and the regulation of this service will be proposed to the Government for approval. This issue also includes a summary of the details, recommendations, and achievements thus far of the “Protecting children in Moldova from family separation, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation” project, as presented at the recent steering committee meeting. The issue concludes with articles on the success of inclusive education in Calarasi, the upcoming closure of a residential school in Falesti (aided by Partnership for Every Child), and the launch of a helpline for children in difficulty.
©USAID, VIITORUL
