TM: Temporary Support Service for High-Risk Youth to Be Provided from 2025

On Tuesday, August 13, the Cabinet of Ministers reviewed the Ministry of Justice's informational report"Regarding Services for High-Risk Children until the Establishment of 'Safe Homes for Children and Youth'", which envisages introducing temporary support services foryouth at high risk, whose behavior endangers their or others' lives and health. The temporaryservice will be provided from January 1, 2025.  

Minister of Justice IneseLībiņa-Egnere emphasizes: “The Ministry of Justice proposes to introduce temporary support services for high-risk children and youth in cases where the only way we can help a child is to temporarily remove them from their usual environment. We acknowledge thatif a child or youth is in an environment that negatively affects their behavior and leadsto endangerment of life or health, the solution is only possible by separating the child from the destructive environment. In this way, we will protect the life and health of the child and others.”

It is planned that starting next year, the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the foundation "AllaziFamily and Child Support Center" will provide a service that will offer careand support to high-risk children and youth. Specialists will workunder the guidance to change the child's behavior to fully and safely integrate children into everyday life and society. “It is important for us that every child receiving the service strengthens their relationship-building skills, develops their independence, and also receives education that matches their abilities. It is important for us that after receiving the service, the child can successfully return to the family and society, without committing offenses and misdeeds to themselves and others,” continues I. Lībiņa-Egnere.

It is plannedthat the new support service will be provided to children aged 11 to 17years, in groups of five children. The service will focus on an individualapproach based on each child's needs.

The provisionalcosts of the temporary service are set at 462,444 euros. The Ministry of Justice plans to implement the service using the allocated state budget funds.

In additionto the introduction of the new service, the Ministry of Justice continues to work on the establishment of "Safe Homes forChildren and Youth". It is planned that the "Safe Homes for Children and Youth"will start operating in 2027 and will concurrentlybe a nurturing measure of coercion that will be used in cases where a child's behaviorendangers themselves or others.  "Safe Homes for Children and Youth" will offer children opportunities to both receive education and access healthand care services. Adolescents aged 11 to 17 will be placed in the "SafeHomes for Children and Youth" based on a court decision for a periodof up to two years, with an evaluation every three months on the possibility of returning to society.