More than half of Montenegrin citizens (58 percent) believe that placing children without parental care in institutions is a good solution, while one in three is of the opinion that the child has the same chances as his peers who grew up in a family.
About 220 children are currently placed in foster families, while only 10 of them are not with relatives. About 40 children are currently waiting for foster parents.
This was shown by the latest UNICEF research on foster care and adoption in Montenegro.
Benjamin Perks, the head of the UNICEF representative office in Montenegro, said that, contrary to the opinion of the majority of Montenegrin citizens, global research shows that by placing children in institutions in early childhood, they are exposed to the risk of falling behind in psychological, emotional and physical development.
"That can only be replaced by care in a warm family environment. No child under the age of three may be placed in institutions," said Perks at the presentation of the promotion of foster care "Every child needs a family".
"The goal of the campaign is to find foster parents and at the same time raise public awareness of the impact of placing children in institutions. The reward that foster care provides to families, children and the community is immeasurable, and in addition, there are clear financial benefits that can be measured," said Perks.
"The goal of the campaign is to find foster parents and at the same time raise public awareness of the impact of placing children in institutions," Perks said.
The foster mother, Nada Stojkanović, said that she is the foster parent of two children and that it fulfills her.
"I am aware that I made two little lives happy, I gave them tenderness, love, which they also return to me. The fact that they are growing up happily in a warm family environment makes me very fulfilled and happy too," she said, and invited others to follow her example.
The UNICEF survey also showed that the majority of respondents, as many as 78 percent, believe that the state is not doing enough to help people or families who find themselves in circumstances where the likelihood of child abandonment is increased.
Unlike them, Prime Minister Milo Đukanović believes that the state takes care of children, through the reform of the social and child protection system, it takes measures to help parents.
"This support is reflected in the provision of advisory, health and social services and protection, as well as material and other forms of assistance," said Đukanović.
However, he said that the government is "aware" that this process is long-term and that it requires the fulfillment of important preconditions in terms of strengthening institutional capacities, creating financial preconditions and establishing a national consensus for such a goal.
Drobnič: There is still a lot of work ahead
The head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Mitja Drobnič, said that every child in Montenegro is a potential citizen of the European Union, which is why we should work to realize their full potential.
"The state is obliged to provide help to parents and families and to support children staying in a family environment," he said.
He said that Montenegro still has a lot of work to do in this area, because children's rights are far more than legal abstractions.
Drobnič noted that the EU supported the child and social welfare reform system with around three million euros.
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