A new experimental project titled "Family Home" has been initiated in Ukraine to assist orphaned children and those deprived of parental care.
This initiative aims to create alternative living conditions that will allow children to prepare for independent life in an environment similar to a family setting.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine made this decision on October 1, as reported by the Ministry of Social Policy.
Under this initiative, special homes and apartments will be set up for children who cannot or do not wish to be adopted. Here, they will learn how to manage a household with the help of specialists.
The ministry hopes that these conditions will help children to socialize, live in a safe environment, and receive the necessary support.
Children will have their own space, the right to express their opinions, and the opportunity to live close to their siblings.
A team of specialists, including family educators, social workers, psychologists, and other necessary professionals, will work with them.
This project will last two years and will be implemented in 12 regions of Ukraine. Funding will be a joint effort from both state and local budgets.
This will allow testing a new model of social protection and developing co-funding mechanisms.
The first two "Family Homes" are planned to be established in Kyiv and Chernivtsi regions. Each home will accommodate up to eight children, or six if there are children with disabilities among them.
"For a child, the feeling of home and care is paramount. We are moving away from institutional solutions and creating a space that is as close to home as possible."
This initiative aims to help children who currently struggle to find families, enabling them to learn to trust adults and prepare for their futures," concluded Iryna Tuliakova, head of the Coordinating Center for Family Care Development.
It should be noted that starting January 2026, the government plans to increase payments to foster parents and caregivers in family-type homes.