RUSSIA: Support for Street and At-Risk Children and Youth
A resident at the halfway house
in St. Petersburg
in St. Petersburg
Neglected, abandoned, or left behind, thousands of street and at-risk children and youth live in unstable and unhealthy environments in St. Petersburg and other cities throughout the Russian Federation. Without any form of support network or adult guidance – let alone a warm, safe place to sleep, eat, or study – these children and youth are denied the basic opportunities to imagine a better future. Public health, education, and other social services are routinely denied to street children based on their lack of official documentation, eliminating the only safety net they have. Many at-risk children and youth end up in institutions, which do not offer better alternatives. Understaffed and under-resourced, state institutions for youth are often dangerous and abusive environments.
Doctors of the World – USA (DOW) has been working to address the needs of street and at-risk children and youth in St. Petersburg since 1994, creating community-based, sustainable projects to reduce children’s homelessness and institutionalization. In addition to helping thousands of children and youth and successfully advocating for increased attention on the part of the government, our efforts have resulted in the establishment of a Russian nonprofit organization, Doctors to Children, which has become a vital partner in both developing and implementing projects.
Providing support through Drop-in Centers
DOW has developed and created Drop-in Centers (DIC) to provide street and at risk children and youth with a safe place to access medical, psychosocial, and legal support services that acknowledge their rights and dignity. Additionally, the DICs assist youth with placements in family homes and vocational programs, improving their chances for a better future. A halfway house, which opened in 2007, provides long-term shelter for young people transitioning into independent and stable lives.
Restoring family support
DOW staff provide case management and support and make home visits to families whose economic, physical, or social situation place children at-risk of being institutionalized or abandoned.
Training service providers
Often suffering from severe depression, development disabilities, drug addiction, and trauma resulting from sexual and physical abuse, at-risk youth have specific needs that require a sensitive and understanding approach. To ensure appropriate care, DOW multi-disciplinary teams of Russian physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers train staff at youth shelters and DICs in case management and comprehensive care.
Partnering with the public sector
Collaboration with the local government has enabled support for DOW’s programs for street and at-risk children and youth and has raised awareness and public commitment to address child welfare as a social and human rights imperative.
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OTHER PROJECTS IN RUSSIA:
Access to HIV Testing, Prevention, and Care for Street Youth
MAMA+ Project
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OTHER PROJECTS IN RUSSIA:
Access to HIV Testing, Prevention, and Care for Street Youth
MAMA+ Project