In recent years, there have been significant changes in the field of care for children without parental care. Over three years, the number of children in foster care has decreased by 17%, while the number of children placed in institutions has increased by 22%. More and more often, teenagers, siblings, and children with complex behavioral, medical, and social problems are entering the care system. There is a particularly acute shortage of foster families for teenagers and children with traumatic experiences or behavioral difficulties. The burden on foster families is growing, while their capacity to take in new children is decreasing. To identify the main risks and plan more effective support measures, the Welfare Department conducted a study. It showed that the separation of a child from their family is often not the result of a single event, but a prolonged process involving multiple factors: addictions, violence, mental health issues, insufficient parenting skills, social isolation, unstable living conditions, and a lack of motivation to cooperate with support institutions. At the same time, the number of cases of violence and inadequate fulfillment of parental duties leading to the removal of children from families is also increasing. The study also indicated that timely assistance to families, effective cooperation between various institutions, and the availability of social services are crucial for the safety of children. At the same time, there are positive trends in family rehabilitation. Last year in Riga, parental rights were revoked for 272 individuals - fewer than in 2024, when there were 323 such cases.
