Minister of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography Damir Gutić and Director of the State Property Administration Koča Đurišić They signed an agreement on the use of business premises free of charge for the needs of the Foster Care Center.
"The signing of this agreement represents another step forward in creating a system that provides children in Montenegro with what they need most - a family, a home and a sense of belonging," the ministry said.
They said that the center will be a key link in the development and improvement of foster care, "as one of the noblest forms of protection for children without parental care."
"In addition to the Foster Care Center in Podgorica, it is planned to open two regional units in the north and south of Montenegro. These centers will be a pillar of the development of foster care: from recruiting and training new foster parents, through continuous support to families, to the development of specialized forms of foster care for children with developmental disabilities, children whose safety is at risk, but also for children from the most vulnerable communities," they add.
In this way, they said, foster care will continue to develop and improve in quality.
"Science and practice have shown that institutionalization has profound and long-term consequences on a child's life: it slows down emotional development, reduces opportunities for social integration, and makes it more difficult for a child to achieve their full potential. Our obligation, as a state, is to change this. No child should grow up in an institution. Every child must have the opportunity to grow up in an environment that provides them with love and a sense of belonging. Together, we are making Podgorica, as well as all of Montenegro, become a home that supports, empowers, and protects every child," the statement reads.
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