The costing of the recently developed programs in 11 regions of the country, along with their funding mechanisms and further sustainability of the programs developed by Partnerships for Every Child /P4EC/ within the project Children in Moldova are cared for in safe and secure families were the issues discussed at the ordinary meeting with the heads and specialists of Social Assistance and Family Protection Departments of 11 regions on Tuesday, 16 March.
Representatives of LPA showed their readiness to take up the programs of parenting education and psycho-social assistance for children and families, developed and piloted together with the P4EC in the recent three years. These will be integrated into the local child protection systems.
At the same time, the P4EC team and the LPA representatives discussed the opportunities for the development of the funding of social services from the state budget. Such initiatives were produced together with the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family, and involve the development of compulsory and statutory package of services that should be provided by all LPAs.
Social services are currently funded by the territorial social assistance authorities from the regional LPA’s sources. This makes the funding of social services to be at complete discretion of the regional councils, which puts it to high risk, as social assistance services do not represent a priority of the most of LPAs, but also due to insufficient funds.
The event was organized by P4EC within the USAID-funded project Children in Moldova are cared for in safe and secure families, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family, Ministry of Education, and LPAs of 11 regions participating in the project: Ungheni, Falesti, Calarasi, Telenesti, Cahul, Orhei, Nisporeni, Causeni, Singerei, Rezina, and Soroca. The Children in Moldova are cared for in safe and secure families project was launched in 2014, and aims at improving the safety, well-being, and development of children at risk and those lacking adequate family care in the Republic of Moldova.