This situation, combined with the need for many young parents to seek employment abroad, led to an increase in the breakdown of the family, and a significant number of children growing up without parental care.

There are an estimated 110,000 children growing up in 669 institutions in Ukraine, and 25,000 children living alone. In addition, 5,000 babies are currently living in baby institutions, and approximately 1,000 newborn babies are abandoned every year.

Our work in Ukraine

In 1998, faced with the rising number of children growing up in institutions, the Government of Ukraine invited us to develop their family-based childcare projects that were alternatives to institutional care. With this in mind, we demonstrated our Small Family Homes model.

To date, we have prevented over 700 children from spending their childhood in institutions, developing a network of Small Family Homes. Additionally, we have developed Mother and Baby Units that provide support for vulnerable young mothers who would otherwise be forced to abandon their babies.

The Government has declared our Mother and Baby Units as a national model they wish to spread throughout Ukraine. The Government has since created three Mother and Baby Units, and plans to create 12 more across the country. To support this initiative, we have created the official training course and best practice guidelines.

Due to the success we have had in setting up these childcare services, we have secured the first ever agreement to close an institution in Ukraine. We are developing the services needed to help keep families together and prevent the need for any more children to enter the Barvinok institution again. At the same time, we are developing individual care plans for the children in the institution so that we can move them into caring family environments.

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