| Currently, all of Ukraine’s 7.5 million children are affected by the war. Children have been injured, evacuated, or displaced, they have lost family members, and they have missed school. Families have lost income and poverty – including child poverty – has risen, as has food insecurity.[1] Children and families are experiencing trauma, grief, and insecurity. The past year has left Ukraine’s children at higher risk of experiencing adversity, often multiple adversities, including a looming mental health crisis. |
| The Government of Ukraine, with support from Maestral and other key partners, are designing the “Better Care” initiative to address the challenges Ukraine’s children face, focusing on providing safe and nurturing family care for all children. To achieve this, reforming the child protection system to better care for each child, including ending institutionalisation of children, is a reconstruction and EU accession priority of the Government of Ukraine. Maestral is providing technical support to strengthen and reform the care system to:Strengthen families and keep them together by investing in social services.Support family-based alternatives (e.g. foster care, guardianship and adoption) for children without adequate parental care.Safely reintegrate children in institutions into family care while transforming institutions to provide community services that will support families based on their needs. |
| [1] UNICEF. Humanitarian Action for Children: Ukraine and Refugee Response. 2023. |