site.bta10,000 Children Deinstitutionalized in Bulgaria in Past Ten Years

10,000 Children Deinstitutionalized in Bulgaria in Past Ten Years

Sofia, October 9 (BTA) - About 10,000 children have been
deinstitutionalized in Bulgaria in the past ten years, which is
a serious progress in the process of deinstitutionalization, the
 new UNICEF Representative in Bulgaria, Maria Jesus Conde, said
during her first meeting with Labour and Social Policy Minister
Ivailo Kalfin, Kalfin's Ministry said in a press release on
Friday.

Kalfin said he hopes that the successful and productive
cooperation between his Ministry and UNICEF for improving
children's quality of life, reducing inequality and promoting
the social inclusion of youth will continue.

Data of the Ministry show that the past five years saw a triple
reduction in the number of children in specialized institutions
while the provision of social services doubled. At the moment
1,836 children live in 81 specialized institutions, while the
social services total 459 and benefit more than 11,700 users.

Kalfin and Conde also discussed the preparation of the new
two-year working plan for the implementation of the Action Plan
of UNICEF's Programme in Bulgaria in the 2013-2017 period. The
document covers areas such as deinstitutionalization, early
child development, support to vulnerable children and children
with disabilities, reform of youth justice and education.