The regional forum of foster families gathered more than 170 participants in Vitebsk

– The holding of this event is becoming a good tradition. And it is symbolic that the second regional forum of foster families is taking place within the framework of Parental Love Week. Foster parents and guardian parents are solving one of the most important and promising tasks of the state. Today we express our gratitude to those who invest their souls in upbringing daily, remind of the importance of preserving family values and traditions, warming children's hearts and instilling in them healthy norms and rules of life, – emphasized the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Vyacheslav Durnov. – In turn, I want to emphasize the significance of state family policy, which includes a set of measures, support for families through the provision of guarantees and benefits in the fields of education, healthcare, etc. Family forms of placement for children left without parental care are actively developing in the republic: adoption, guardianship, foster family, family-type children's homes. Thus, since 1998, the "Children of Belarus" program has initiated the centralized construction of family-type children's homes at the expense of state funds and has proven its effectiveness.

As Vyacheslav Durnov noted, in the Vitebsk region, it is planned to commission family-type children's homes in the Gorodok and Liozno districts this year. Funds have been allocated for 2023 for the construction of family-type children's homes in the Polotsk and Beshenkovichi districts. More than 17 million rubles are provided in the regional budget for the functioning of foster families.

– Upbringing, protection of the rights and interests of children left without parental care is a serious and highly responsible task. We must create all conditions so that every child is surrounded by attention, can find close and dear people, warmth and comfort of their home. And the destinies of children depend on how we solve these problems, – Vyacheslav Viktorovich emphasized. – I am confident that the forum's results will contribute to the exchange of experience, best practices, and strengthening cooperation between authorities, public organizations, and foster families.

At the solemn opening ceremony of the forum, the most active foster parents and social and pedagogical workers were awarded honorary prizes.

About 150 people are participating in the forum: foster parents, foster parents of family-type children's homes, specialists from education departments of district executive committees and city executive committees, administrations of Vitebsk districts, social-pedagogical centers, directors of boarding institutions, deputy chairpersons of commissions for juvenile affairs of district (city) executive committees.

In addition to six practical master classes, participants can expect interactive psychological workshops. At the end of the event, the results of the work will be summarized, as well as the regional amateur film contest "Happy Family Moments!".

The forum is organized by the main department for education of the regional executive committee, the regional institute for the development of education, the regional social-pedagogical center, and the regional palace of children and youth.

"Vitebskiye Vesti".