A relevant Bill on amendments to the Law, 'On State Aid to Families with Children' (appertaining to the amount of Financial Support for children in Care/Guardianship), was Registered as urgent in The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Bill (Reg.No.1453) seeks to improve social protection for orphans and children deprived of parental care, and create the appropriate conditions for the realisation of their right to education within a family unit.
According to the Bill, 'Financial Support for children in Care/Guardianship shall be established on the basis of the decision on placing them in Care/guardianship'.
It is also envisaged that, ‘Financial support for children in Care/Guardianship shall be provided to an amount equal to twice the Living Wage required for a child of corresponding age.
Also, ‘in the event that a child receives a Retirement Benefit, Alimony, Scholarship, or State Aid, the amount of financial support provided for the child in care/guardianship shall be determined on the difference between twice the Living Wage for a child of that age and the total amount paid of any of the above specified Benefits.
The Explanatory Note states that there are over 64,000 orphans and children deprived of parental care in Ukraine today, who are educated by carers and guardians. Despite the Family-type Homes, providing care and education for the above categories of children, being the most widespread, they receive the lowest level of financial support for such children, which does not meet Article 52 of The Constitution of Ukraine.
Experts estimate that the passing of this Bill will require 311,807,000 Hryvnias from the State Budget, towards State Aid for children in Care/Guardianship, in addition to the sum allocated in the Law 'On The State Budget 2008 and on Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine'.
Bearing in mind that an orphan or child deprived of parental care, is already in receipt of full State Maintenance in Children´s Homes, foster families, or Children's Family Homes, when placed in Care/Guardianship, the expenditure from the State Budget towards realisation of provisions of this Law will be partially covered through a redistribution of funds, envisaged for keeping a child in the above mentioned facilities.