On 11 April, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs RA and Armenian Caritas on the launch of the first small group home in Vanadzor. The memorandum of understanding aims to increase the effectiveness of social work serving children who are in difficult life situations and their families, to change the methods of round the clock care, as well as a child’s right to live with a family.

During the meeting, reforms in the area of children, particularly the process of reorganizing institutions with round the clock care, were discussed. Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan has found the current work important and hopes that within the framework of cooperation to start the reorganization process based on the needs and proper assessment of a child and and matching them with the appropriate family and social services.

Afterwards, the parties involved in the reorganization process presented the results of the assessments on the needs of children in the Vanadzor orphanage, SNCO. Based on these results, they are able to explore the possibilities of applying alternative types of care, as well as the problems that arose in the process of giving support to the children who are already in the care and protection of boarding schools and their families.

From 1 May, ten children who now are taken care of in the orphanage will continue round the clock care closer to the family in the Sabina care small home. The representatives of international and Non-governmental organizations as well as the Lori Governor’s Office were present in the meeting.