New care homes to open for children with disabilities under state care
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The Georgian Government, international organisations and the business sector are joining their efforts to develop better services for children with disabilities under state care.
Georgia’s Health Ministry announced a new family type small-scale alternative care facility will be established in capital Tbilisi by the end of 2016.
The facility will be adapted and fully adjusted to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
The small-scale alternative care facility will accommodate the children who are currently under state care and reside in the Tbilisi Infant House.
The project was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).
Meanwhile the initiative was joined by the M2 Real Estate developer which committed to fund construction of another small-scale alternative care facility for children with disabilities.
M2 will fully cover the construction costs and the second small-scale alternative care facility will open in early 2107.
UNICEF Georgia said the establishment of two small scale alternative care facilities would allow the Georgian Government to expand the alternative services for children with disabilities and end use of institutional care for these children.
To date 59 children with severe and profound disabilities reside in the Tbilisi Infant House.
Georgia will develop and implement a comprehensive policy to abolish the existing social barriers that hinders people with disabilities from their full and effective participation in all spheres of public life.
UNICEF Georgia is launching a social change campaign tomorrow to address stigmas against people with disabilities in Georgian society.
A new specialised family-type service for children with severe disabilities has been established in Georgia’s third largest city of Kutaisi in the country’s west.
Seven children with disabilities who are currently under state care will soon live in a new facility where they will get family-type service and care.
The United Nations in Georgia has released a joint statement commending the parliament of Georgia for ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities yesterday.