Maria Lvova-Belova noted the favourable results achieved in the Tambov Region thanks to comprehensive work to support children and families. For example, the Yunost Art Space centre for teenagers has already been opened and is successfully functioning there. In addition, the number of orphans and children left without parental care is decreasing. At the same time, preventive work with families in difficult life situations and socially insecure remains important.
She reached an agreement at a meeting with the Head of the Tambov Region Administration Maxim Yegorov: the region will be included in a project to prevent social orphanhood among children under 4 years of age as part of the Commissioner’s strategic programme Children in the Family. A day care centre for children with disabilities will also be opened here, where parents will be able to bring children with disabilities for the time they need to attend to personal or household issues.
According to Maxim Yegorov, the priority is to preserve a child’s birth family, so it is necessary to create conditions that will preclude families from getting into a deep crisis. In this regard, the regional authorities are ready to introduce the best practices that help strengthen families.
As part of her working trip, Maria Lvova-Belova chaired a meeting on the protection and defence of the rights and legitimate interests of children in the Tambov Region. The meeting was attended by heads of regional executive authorities, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Investigative Committee, as well as guardianship and custody agencies. They discussed the family-oriented approach of social institutions, support for parents in distress and keeping children in their biological families.
The Children’s Commissioner also visited a number of children’s social institutions: the Tatanovsk general secondary school, the Oreshek social shelter for children, and the regional specialised children’s home. Together with the regional head, Maria Lvova-Belova and the specialists of the institutions examined the children’s personal files, talked to the children, teachers and other specialists, and got acquainted with the organisations’ work.
She held a personal reception of the region’s residents at the Centre for Social Support of Citizens. They considered situations in which children are kept in a social institution and parents need help in finding a job, improving housing conditions and other matters. The human rights institution and regional authorities committed to providing the families with comprehensive assistance.