To strive for 100% of orphans to be cared for by relatives in Vietnam

To strive for 100% of orphans to be cared for by relatives in Vietnam (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

On December 8, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1591/QD-TTg approving the Program on child mental health care and orphan care for the period 2023–2030.

To strive for 100% of orphans to be cared for by relatives in Vietnam

The goals of the Children's Mental Health Care and Orphan Care Program for the period 2023–2030 include:

- Overall objectives: Children receiving mental health care, children with mental health problems, and orphans have access to appropriate support services to exercise children's rights and take care of their comprehensive development. children.

- Detailed objectives:

+ Strive for 80% of children with mental health problems and children at high risk of mental health disorders to have access to counseling services, psychological support, and social services suitable at schools, medical examination and treatment facilities, social assistance facilities, child protection service providers, and in the community.

+ Strive for 100% of orphans to be cared for by relatives, individuals, or families who are not relatives, adopted or placed in temporary foster care at social assistance facilities, and to have access to appropriate care and support services.

08 solutions of the Child Mental Health Care and Orphan Care Program for the period 2023-2030

(1) Review, amend, supplement, and implement laws and policies on mental health care for children and care for orphans with diverse and flexible forms and models which focuses on alternative care for children at home. Review and improve policies and services to care for and nurture orphans at centralized foster care facilities and SOS children's villages.

(2) Communicate to raise awareness of all levels, sectors, families, and communities about children's mental health care, protection, and care of orphans; focus on providing information about children's rights, knowledge, and skills for parents, caregivers, and people receiving alternative care for children on mental health care, care, nurturing, and alternative care for orphan children.

(3) Strengthen training, capacity building, and development of staff at all levels and sectors, especially staff working in child care, education, and protection, teachers working in child mental health care, medical staff, social workers at educational establishments, social assistance establishments, and child protection service providers, medical examination and treatment facilities, and in the community to support and provide mental health care services, foster care, and alternative care for orphans.

(4) Develop comprehensive and continuous mental health care services for children

- Strengthen mental health care services for children; strengthen primary health care in the prevention and early detection of mental health disorders in children; and strengthen children's mental health care at medical examination and treatment facilities.

- Develop support services for prevention, early detection, and counseling for children with mental health problems and children at risk of mental disorders at social assistance facilities, child protection service providers, and in the community; build a service network; connect and refer mental health care services for children; Develop a counseling program to guide parents, caregivers, and children in mental health care knowledge and skills.

- Develop mental health care services in schools; implement mental health education for students; and develop a network of teachers, staff, and collaborators with knowledge and skills in mental health care for students at general education establishments.

(5) Develop support services and alternative care for orphans

- Orphaned children receive appropriate foster care, alternative care and access to support services according to their needs for comprehensive development. Priority is given to alternative care for orphans at home by relatives, non-relatives, and adoption.

- Develop a service network to find alternative care families and advise and support families on alternative care. Strengthen social work services to deploy alternative care for children. Provide guidance on standards of care, nurturing, and provision of services for children at social assistance facilities and SOS children's villages according to legal regulations.

- Increase the transfer of orphans and children with special circumstances to social assistance facilities and centralized child care facilities for individuals and families for alternative care and adoption.

- Launch and maintain social movements to care for and support orphans, families, and individuals to provide alternative care and sponsor orphans.

(6) Strengthen inter-sectoral coordination and build a coordination mechanism between agencies and organizations for caring for children's mental health and caring for orphans suitable for each subject.

(7) Strengthen inspection, monitoring, and evaluation of Program implementation. Research, survey, and evaluate the situation of mental health care for children and orphans.

(8) Promote socialization, strengthen international cooperation, and mobilize all social resources, experiences, and initiatives to care for mental health and care for orphans.

Decision 1591/QD-TTg takes effect from the date of signing.

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