Domna Michailidou: It does not close any child protection structure

“No child protection structure will be closed, but none will be left without rules,” Undersecretary of Labor for Social Welfare and Social Solidarity Domna Michailidou said on Tuesday after a meeting with child protection organizations, during which the importance was stressed. Establishment of a common regulatory framework for Child Protection and Private Law Care Units (MOPs), which sets strict specifications and clear criteria for their establishment and operation.

According to Ms. Michailidou, the ministerial decision pursues two main purposes: first, the regulation of operation, staffing, building specifications, control and the services provided as a whole, so that the care of children in structures is the best possible; and second, the operation of the structures should be oriented towards the purpose of finding a suitable family for each child.

The Undersecretary of Labor also stressed that the final content of the ministerial decision setting out the specifications for the establishment and operation of IPRs by legal entities of private law of a non-profit nature was formulated after the public consultation in which child protection bodies participated.

As announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, all views submitted were evaluated and many of them were adopted, to ensure the smooth operation of the structures, the optimal provision of services to children, their proper staffing with appropriate staff (social workers, psychologists , caregivers, etc.) and the fastest possible deinstitutionalization of all children.

Ms. Michailidou stated that a transitional period of one year is provided for all structures, so that they can adapt to the operating conditions set and assured that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will support their every effort in this direction.

For his part, the General Secretary of the Panhellenic Network of Certified Service Providers for People with Disabilities, George Papadakis, was in favor of establishing conditions for the establishment and operation of Child Protection and Care Units by legal entities under private law. transitional stage of adaptation.

Child Protection Specialist at Unicef’s office in Greece Mariella Michailidou stated that for Unicef, the regulatory framework is an important step and safety valve for the protection of children who remain in institutional care, until the reform of the child protection system is completed. “The goal is deinstitutionalization,” said Mariella Michailidou.

The president of the Panhellenic Federation of Associations of Parents and Guardians of Persons with Disabilities, Ioannis Moscholios, described as a positive development the establishment of a single framework of standards for MOPs operating by private legal entities of non-profit nature, “in order to ensure disability, but also to all children living in these institutions “. Mr. Moscholios stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, explaining that legal entities under public law and legal entities under private law should be governed by the same rules.