Social services for families with children are to be developed in all the districts of Moldova. The authorities aim to employ child rights protection specialists who will work at mayor’s offices and to consider possibilities of de-institutionalizing the about 1,700 children who are yet in residential institutions. The information was presented in the public hearings staged by the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family, IPN reports.

Secretary of state at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection Viorica Dumbraveanu said the policies classify the social services into three categories – primary services, specialized services and highly specialized services. These are intended for families with children, persons with disabilities and elderly people.

“Another about 2,000 persons with disabilities are now in residential institutions. Alternative placement services are needed for them too. Another objective is to develop regional services for assisting and counseling domestic aggressors,” noted Viorica Dumbraveanu.

Speaking about the development of services intended for elderly people, the rapporteur said that over 14,000 such persons will be able to eat at social eateries until 2020.

The MPs recommended the functionaries of the Ministry to propose regulations for financing social services from the state budget.