An algorithm for interdepartmental actions to identify family distress has been developed in the Vitebsk region

The Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office has developed a unified Regulation on the interaction of services and departments of the region for identifying cases of children in a socially dangerous situation for the first time. This was announced by Anton Volkov, Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the Vitebsk Region.

"Such a unified act of an organizational and practical nature has been adopted in the region for the first time. According to our information, there are no similar documents in the republic either," noted Anton Volkov. The Regulation was developed by the prosecutor's office and agreed upon with the heads of 10 main regional services and departments (Internal Affairs Directorate of the Regional Executive Committee, Regional Emergency Situations Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Vitebsk Regional Court, Investigative Committee Department for the Vitebsk Region, Education, Healthcare and Housing and Communal Services Directorates, Labor, Employment and Social Protection Committee of the Regional Executive Committee, RUP "Vitebskenergo", RUP "Vitebskoblgaz"). "The exhaustive list of state organizations that are obliged to report on children in danger is not defined by law. However, in practice, many services and departments, due to the specifics of their activities, possess information about children living with dangerous parents - idlers, alcoholics, drug addicts, thieves, brawlers," noted the senior assistant prosecutor. The developed regulation not only establishes the main informants about family distress but also defines the mechanisms of their interaction and the timelines for transferring information. "Timely identification of family distress by educational institutions based on signals from state organizations contributes to the reduction of orphanhood and the decriminalization of the adolescent environment," emphasized the prosecutor's office representative. As a result of the consistent work carried out to implement the requirements of Decree No. 18 "On Additional Measures for State Protection of Children in Unfavorable Families," the number of orphaned children in the region has decreased by 25.5% over the past eight years. "As a result of the reduction in social orphanhood, the fertile ground for the spread of juvenile delinquency has largely been eliminated, the level of which has also decreased fourfold during the same period," stated Anton Volkov. To achieve such

results were achieved thanks to the targeted activities of interested services in the timely identification of cases of family distress. Anton Volkov is convinced that the document developed in the Vitebsk region will contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the work carried out to protect children.

Alena Tikhonova – BELTA.