In her opening remarks, Maria Lvova-Belova emphasised that the seminar and conference will focus above all on interdepartmental cooperation between the medical and social sectors, state and non-profit centres, and the role of children's rights commissioners, as well as the education system, the Interior Ministry, other ministries and departments, and the media in this work.
According to the Commissioner, the seminar was created as a step towards implementing a family-saving approach throughout the country, so that as many children as possible are raised at home, rather than in institutions. After all, parents’ alcohol and drug addiction is one of the main factors of social orphanhood in the country. Maria Lvova-Belova also gave recommendations on how to improve the access to assistance to families.
The seminar programme included panel discussions, workshops, and group classes. Special focus was placed on regional practices of helping parents with alcohol and drug addiction, rehabilitation formats without separating the family, cooperation with NGOs, and support for parents with addiction on the peer-to-peer basis.