Alexandra Arakelova, head of the Center for Family and Church Care for Children at the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, and Elena Lutkovskaya, an expert at the department, visited the SOS Children's Village in Tomilino, where they exchanged experiences in the field of family care for orphans and children left without parental care, support for foster families, and prevention of social orphanages.
SOS Children's Villages is a model of family arrangement in which children left without parental care are raised in foster homes. Families live in separate houses in the village and receive comprehensive support from psychologists, social workers and other experts.
Nikolay Slabzhanin, Executive Director of SOS Children's Villages, and Yuri Ryabinov, Director of SOS Children's Village in Tomilino, introduced the staff of the Synodal Charity Department to the organization of foster families, their support and support system, as well as work with graduates of SOS Children's Villages.
An important part of the meeting was the discussion of the prevention of social orphanhood and assistance to blood families in crisis situations. SOS Children's Villages specialists accompany families in difficult life circumstances, helping parents overcome the crisis and preserve the possibility of raising a child in their own family. Depending on the situation, the family can be provided with social, psychological and other necessary assistance, including temporary accommodation for children or families with children.
Following the meeting, the staff of the Synodal Department for Charity and SOS Children's Villages agreed to continue cooperation. Among the areas of cooperation is the exchange of experience and training of specialists, including using the capabilities of the SOS Academy Educational center, which trains and professionally develops specialists working with families and children.
The meeting participants also discussed the possibilities of spiritual support for families and children. In the future, it is planned to consider the participation of clergy in conversations with parents and children, as well as the possibility of attracting volunteers to work with families.
"It is especially important for us to get acquainted with practices that allow us not only to support foster families, but also to work ahead of the curve — to help blood families overcome the crisis and maintain relationships with children. I am sure that the exchange of experience and the joint work of specialists will help us develop this area," said Alexandra Arakelova.