New 'Guardian Family' model to be introduced in Azerbaijan

The "Guardian Family" model of care, which is one of the most widespread examples of child care in the world and creates conditions for children in state institutions to live in a family environment by transferring them to foster families, is planned to be applied in Azerbaijan. Institutional preparations are underway for this purpose. One of the areas of cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is in this area,” the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan Sahil Babayev said at a meeting with the new head of UNICEF in Baku Alex Heikens, Report informs.

Congratulating Heikens on his new appointment, the minister stressed that the protection and development of children, the protection of their rights is an important part of the social policy of Azerbaijan.

Babayev highlighted the reforms carried out in the country in the field of social protection, as well as the development of child care, and active cooperation with UNICEF in this area.

The minister stressed the importance of the "Periodic Action Plan for Social Protection and Child Protection for 2021-2022" signed in May this year. He noted the "Integrated Social Services Model" implemented in a test phase with UNICEF under this Plan. He said that the model, which provides comprehensive social services in several areas at the same time from a single center for children and families from vulnerable groups, will be widely used.

Alex Heikens noted that the UNICEF Office in Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population have formed a successful cooperation experience in the past and will make efforts to develop this collaboration in the future.

The sides exchanged views on the current areas of cooperation, reforms in the development of child care in the country, the joint work to be done on the "Periodic Action Plan for Social Protection and Child Protection for 2021-2022."