Preventing family separations - Photo slideshow from the Ministerial Conference in Bulgaria - 21/22 November 2012

1. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Preventing the separation of young children
by supporting families is a priority !

2. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
1.3 million children are separated
from their families in this region.
About half of them are institutions.

3. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Some 31,000 of those in institutions
are under the age of three.
In fact, these babies, infants and toddlers
are the ones most at risk
of being placed in institutions.

4. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
For every day
that small children spend in institutions,
they risk developmental delays,
and even brain damage.

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9. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
No matter how committed staff members are
No matter how good the physical conditions are,
Institutions can never provide
the love and care a family can give.

10. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Poverty should never be a reason
why a child is placed in alternative care!
With the right support,
families can stay together.

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17. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
For families at risk of
disintegration to stay together,
they need support.

18. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Most of all, they need services:
day care while family members are working,
rehabilitation for a child with disabilities,
or help to find a job…

19. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
But sometimes, they also need
emergency assistance:
help with housing, financial support,
help to get rid of a drug addiction.

20. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Family-based care can provide children
with what they need the most:
love and individual care.

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29. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Yet, even if most people would
agree with these principles,
more needs to be done to fully develop
foster care for babies
and give families adequate support.

30. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
Let`s work together …
So every child can have a family.

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32. nd Tell on Social Protection
Bonn, 2011
These photos were taken in
Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Serbia
© UNICEF/2011/KateHolt
Photo and music editing by New Age Studio