Reorganisation of Children's homes

Project completed

Today orphans are living mostly in old mansion houses that are not suitable for the purpose, whose maintenance costs are very high and renovation would not be cost efficient. Therefore, the project will construct ten family type children homes that will serve as a new model sample for reorganisation of substitute home services in whole Estonia.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Estonia
Improving social security
Social services for specific target groups
02.12.2009 - 01.03.2016
CHF  5’640’000

Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.

Background

On December 1, 2007 altogether 1485 children lived in child care institutions, of whom 507 were disabled, 111 aged between 0-3 and others 867. The development of welfare institutions for children is constrained by their location: long distances from regional centres hamper access to public services, incl. educational, working, cultural and learning opportunities. In addition, the existing facilities are out of date and meet neither health protection nor fire safety requirements, nor modern welfare principles, which have not been adequately complied with because of the limited volume of investments in the reconstruction or construction of new buildings. With this project, the social and physical quality of life will be improved for at least 80 orphans (full occupancy of all children’s homes and if all are staying for 15 years).

Objectives

The project’s goal is the reorganisation of state substitute home institutions and the creation of new home-like institutions integrated into the usual living environment as required by the Social Welfare Concept. The project’s result is defined as ten built children homes that, together with two pilot ones, which were built by using the state budget and a Swedish grant, will serve as a standard for additional children\'s homes yet to be built.

Target groups

80 children without parental care living under foster care and three municipalities, Viljandi, Juuru and Elva

 

 

Activities

Ten children's homes are built in three municipalities and four sites. Furthermore, in these municipalities local governments take over responsibility for orphans from the State thus implementing the Social Welfare Concept and serving as a model for other municipalities that are yet to implement the new concept.

Results

Achieved results:  

  • 95 children live in 14 new family-type housing units that were constructed in six different municipalities
  • Remaining children without parental care live either in toster families or with guardians.
  • The housing units contribute to the implementation of the new concept of substitute homes.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
  • National State Institute North


Other partners

Executing Agency: Social Welfare Department; respective Municipalities of Juuru, Elva and Viljandi

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    5’640’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    5’639’991
Project phases

Phase 1 02.12.2009 - 01.03.2016   (Completed)