Romanian project supports children at risk of family separation
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In Botoșani County, Romania, authorities launched a unique project called CARE to support hundreds of children exposed to abandonment, abuse, and poverty, using European funds.
Each year, over 10,000 children in Romania enter state care due to abuse, parental inability to provide care, or abandonment. The CARE project aims to prevent family separation by offering support to vulnerable families in one of the country’s poorest regions.
The project brings together public institutions, associations, and local authorities to provide counseling, therapy, and education. Nine day centers were established to help children with food, homework assistance, and psychological support, especially those with parents working abroad or facing hardship. The goal is to equip parents with the skills to care for their children and prevent abuse, prioritizing keeping children within their families whenever possible.
Officials assess each family’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment before reintegrating children into their homes, addressing issues like conflict, violence, and basic living conditions. So far, the project has helped 35 children return to their families, providing material support like food and firewood for six months to ensure a stable transition. The CARE project is scheduled to continue for another year, building on its early successes in Botoșani County.
