HELP TO FAMILY-TYPE CHILDREN’S HOMES

A family-type children’s home is a separate family created by the desire of a couple or an individual, which takes in and raises no fewer than 5 orphaned children or children deprived of parental care. In other words, it is a large foster family.

A foster family helps improve living conditions, development, and upbringing of children, while also providing a strong foundation for their future independent adult life. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, as of May 2024, there are 1,300 family-type children’s homes in Ukraine, housing over 9,000 children. These families play an important social role by not only meeting children’s basic needs but also providing a warm, caring, and supportive atmosphere essential for their full development.

The “Help to Family-Type Children’s Homes” program was created in 2023 as a response to the difficult circumstances these families have faced since the start of the full-scale war. Families living in temporarily occupied territories or near the frontlines lost their homes, left behind all their property, and started a new life from scratch. Those living in relatively safe areas were also affected by the full-scale war. Loss of income, rising prices for vital goods and services, difficulties in education, blackouts, safety issues, and more have added to their challenges.

The “Help to Family-Type Children’s Homes” program was created with an understanding of these difficulties and aims to provide effective support to families in all war-affected areas, regardless of their location.