The end of children in infant institutions? Prague is in line with the vision of the deputies
If the amendment passes the Senate and is signed by the president, the capital will help, among other things, get children into families from the infant institution in Krč. “It is the only one in the republic to establish a Ministry of Health, which refused to cooperate in the transformation of the institute or its takeover under the capital,” the Prague City Council warned in a press release.
Prague has set up an infant institute in Zbraslav, but here the youngest children under the age of three are no longer accepted and the facility is undergoing a transformation into a family support center.
Prague Councilor for Social Policy and Healthcare Milena Johnová (Prague herself) welcomes the decision of the deputies.
“Young children, in spite of all their care, are taking extremely difficult consequences from institutions, and infant institutions are a great disgrace to this country. Thanks to the law, we could completely get rid of Prague’s infant institutions, and that is great news for children, “she said.
Toddlers don’t even end up in Kangaroo
In addition to infant institutions, the amendment on the social and legal protection of children also addresses facilities for children who require immediate assistance – for example, Kangaroos. Even from 2025, infants and toddlers should not end here. Replacement for institutional care should be either support for biological families or alternative family care in the form of adoption and foster care (including that for a transitional period).
“I will do everything to make it possible for us in Prague to get children into families much faster. We will also use groups of siblings and children with severe disabilities who are exempted by law to get into families. But they are children like everyone else and they should also have a family, I am convinced of that, “Milena Johnová described the municipality’s efforts.
For example, the capital is preparing a network of relief services for families with children with disabilities. It then creates new services and jobs for the socially weaker inhabitants so that they can move with their descendants from hostels to ordinary households.
Councilor John is also pleased with the approval of the increase in remuneration, to which Prague has long appealed and which are to help expand the capacity of foster care: “Few people can imagine how difficult it is to care for adopted children. Foster parents help children cope with their traumas and put them on their feet. ”
It was in the former infant institution in Zbraslav that teams of support for specialized foster care for children were also established within the new organization.