Poverty, the main cause of children's separation from their families

In our country, 1.36 million children are affected by severe poverty, social exclusion and lack of access to essential services, informs the Save the Children Organization. Of these, only slightly over 27,000 currently benefit from the services of day centers to prevent family separation, in the context in which the Romanian state has only 724 such centers, of which only 360 are public. According to data from the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption (ANPDCA), at the end of September 2024, 27,728 children benefited from services in day centers. This figure is, however, insignificant compared to the 1.36 million children who live in conditions that threaten their normal development: families without sufficient income, unsanitary housing, lack of access to education, health or adequate nutrition.

• A systemic risk: family separation

The lack of adequate services to prevent the separation of children from their families means that a significant number of children end up in the special protection system. At the end of September 2024, over 24,600 children were in the care of the state. The most common causes of separation are not neglect or abuse, but deep social problems - especially extreme poverty, family disorganization, precarious housing or the young age of the parents.

To respond to these urgent needs, Save the Children Romania, in partnership with the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) Sector 2, launched the project "Integrated interventions in the community for children and families at risk”. The project, carried out between February 2025 and December 2027, aims to increase access to community services for children and families in difficulty, prevent separation and reintegration of children into the family. The total value of the project is 9.95 million lei, of which over 3.9 million come from European funds and over 5.9 million from the national budget. Local co-financing is approximately 37,000 lei.

Project objectives: Supporting 255 children at risk of family separation;

Reintegration of 15 children from the special protection system; Assistance for 270 children and their families, through educational, psychological, material and social services; Establishment of a new day center in Sector 2, which will provide complex services adapted to the needs of the community. According to Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save the Children Romania, "children living at risk of severe poverty need real support, so that vulnerability does not turn into school dropout or serious health problems. It is essential that local authorities are supported with coherent and non-discriminatory funding, in order to be able to intervene effectively where the need is greatest.”

• A critical context for Romania's children

Recent data reveals a worrying situation: 39% of Romanian children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion - the highest percentage in the European Union.

On January 1, 2023, 214,936 children between 7 and 17 years old were outside the education system. The early school leaving rate reached 16.6%, the highest level in the last six years. Public spending on education in Romania is only 3.3% of GDP, well below the EU average of 4.7%.