The study covers all residential child care institutions operating in Armenia, with the purpose of creating a basic baseline for further analysis required for the progressive reduction of placement of children and the development of alternative child care services (which, as part of the de-institutionalisation „Master Plan‟, the Ministry of Labour intends to draft in agreement with UNICEF). The assessment includes orphanages, specialised orphanages for children with disabilities, child care and protection centres, special boarding schools, training schools for children with so-called “antisocial behaviour” and those institutions which focus on specialised education (music, military), assessment centres for children with special education needs, short-term shelters and charity institutions. The aim of the assessment is to verify the situation of each child in relation to their families, and the respect of their entitlements related to their specific condition (whether they are orphans, temporarily separated from the family or with disability and special educational needs). The survey was also intended to capture the views of managers and service providers of the residential care institutions on the general conditions of their facilities.
©UNICEF and Armenian Association of Social Workers
