Attended by more than 400 specialists from prevention agencies and experts on children’s affairs from the Southern Federal District and Russia’s new regions and 500 viewers watching the broadcast online, the forum was supported by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov, Governor of the Volgograd Region Andrei Bocharov, the Volgograd Regional Administration, and the Foundation for Supporting Children in Difficult Situations.
Four district forums have been held during the National Inspection of the System for the Prevention of Social Orphanhood, which the Commissioner’s Office is implementing in response to the President’s instruction. The fifth forum took place in the Southern Federal District.
Opening the plenary session, Maria Lvova-Belova noted that the aim of the nationwide inspection was to introduce a family-oriented approach in each region, with local services focused on preserving families, and to reduce the number of children permanently living in institutions by 25 percent. To achieve this, it is necessary to build a support system for parents facing difficult situations that will help families overcome them.
According to the Commissioner, the inspection team has travelled to 62 regions, where the specialists have studied 5,000 cases, took more than 2,500 cases under special oversight, resulting in over 700 children being returned to their families.
The inspection team visited all eight regions in the Southern Federal District.
The forum included a panel discussion, A Path to Change. Comprehensive assistance for parents with addictions, the creation of infrastructure for children with disabilities, and the development of Children in the Family services and parent clubs were also discussed. Regional institutions and NGOs presented their experience in helping families.
In addition, Maria Lvova-Belova met with Governor Andrei Bocharov to discuss the preliminary results of the inspection and recommendations for the region. The head of the region supported the team’s proposal to reduce the capacity of institutions, which are currently only 60 percent full, while setting up family-oriented services and projects.
The Commissioner held a meeting with heads of agencies and institutions in the juvenile delinquency prevention system, where she presented the inspection’s recommendations.
In addition, Maria Lvova-Belova held a personal reception of citizens.