site.btaUPDATED Number of Institutionalized Children in Bulgaria Drops to 202 by End-2023

The number of children in institutions in Bulgaria has dropped to 202 by the end of 2023, according to a new report published by UNICEF on Thursday. That number used to be around 7,500, according to a post published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy on its Facebook page on April 21, 2023.

When the Child Protection Act was passed in 2000, the country had 168 large institutions for children - 32 homes for infants and toddlers, 104 homes for children deprived of parental care, and 32 homes for children with disabilities. At present, there are only four medical-social care homes for children, and they operate under the Ministry of Health. Those homes are planned to be closed by 2025. Social services for children and families have tripled, from 241 in 2010 to 725 in 2023. As of the end of October 2023, 1,548 children were living in foster care, while 4,057 were placed with relatives.

UNICEF Bulgaria representative Christina De Bruin quoted UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, whose report foreword states that the negative impacts of institutionalization and separation from family on child health, development and well-being are well documented. Children living in large institutions often face emotional neglect and higher levels of abuse and exploitation, putting them at risk of mental health problems, psychological distress and trauma.

De Bruin praised Bulgarian for the significant progress with the reform of the child care system. She added that UNICEF played a key role and supported the closure of the homes in Mogilino, Northern Bulgaria, and Shumen, Northeastern Bulgaria.

UNICEF's report Pathways to better protection: Taking stock of the situation of children in alternative care in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) notes that some 456,000 children in Europe and Central Asia are living in alternative care, including in large institutions. The proportion of children living in residential care in the region is twice the world average. Figures show that 232 per 100,000 children in ECA live in residential care compared to 105 per 100,000 worldwide.

UNICEF is committed to continuing to support national and local authorities and all stakeholders to close the remaining four children's homes and address the challenges of providing quality family support and alternative services, improving the capacity of the child protection system, and the competencies of professionals working with children and parents.