Moldova’s Experience Presented at the Global Forum in Beijing, China: “The Role of Social Workers in Supporting Children Without Parental Care”

From November 30 to December 1, 2024, Beijing, China, hosted a Forum on the role of social workers in supporting children without parental care. Organized in collaboration with UNICEF China, Peking University, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the event was part of the international conference “Knowledge Synthesis: Chinese Social Work Practice Research and Its Dialogue with the World.”

The Forum brought together global experts, practitioners, and researchers, providing a valuable platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies for supporting children without parental care. Moldova was highlighted through the contributions of Daniela Mămăligă, Director of Partnerships for Every Child  and Natalia Semeniuc, Project Coordinator at the same organization, showcasing significant national progress in child protection system reform.

Daniela Mămăligă presented the evolution of Moldova’s child protection reform, emphasizing the successful reduction of children in residential institutions through effective family separation prevention mechanisms, development of family support and family-based care services, workforce strengthening, intersectoral collaboration, and implementation of targeted interventions such as inclusive education and early intervention services. She stated, “The success of child protection reforms crucially depends on the quality of human resources implementing them. No matter how well policies are designed, they can only succeed if applied by capable and dedicated professionals. For Moldova, one of the key priorities is long-term investment in social services human resources. This is essential to maintain progress and provide family- and community-centered care.”

Natalia Semeniuc shared Moldova’s experience in preventing family separation and promoting reintegration through a family-strengthening approach. Recognized as a demonstration country under the Global CTWWC Initiative, Moldova has made significant progress in de-institutionalization. In addition to support for completing child care system reforms, a pilot model of updated primary support activities was launched under the initiative, designed to strengthen community support, consolidate families, and minimize the risk of child separation.

She emphasized, “By family strengthening, we mean an approach based on the family’s strengths, building resilience, and ensuring access to services to help families address challenges to prevent separation and provide a safe, protective home. Family strengthening should be integrated across all our work with families at risk of separation, families with children in care, and families undergoing reintegration, to prevent repeated separation. Our vision is to enhance social support for families, focus on primary prevention, and expand these practices nationwide, integrating them into national strategies and policies.”

The Forum also featured Francesca Stuer, consultant and CTWWC partner, and Dr. Rebecca Davis, Professor of Social Work at Rutgers University and CTWWC technical collaborator. Their presentations highlighted internationally applied principles and approaches to child care system reform, stressing the importance of family-based child care and social services.

On December 2, 2024, with support from UNICEF China, a roundtable was held on global practices in implementing and ensuring the child care continuum. Experts from the USA, UK, Belgium, Georgia, Kazakhstan, India, Argentina, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, and Moldova shared examples of effective social work practices in preventing institutionalization, reintegration, and other child protection measures, including transforming residential institutions into community-based services, developing family and community services for children with disabilities, guardianship, and adoption.

Moldova’s participation at the Beijing Forum highlighted the crucial role of international collaboration in improving social work and child protection practices. Events like this serve as essential platforms for learning and promoting best practices, combining presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions on critical issues supported by evidence and research.

Key lessons from the event underscore the importance of continued investment in social work professionals, adapting services to emerging needs, promoting cross-sectoral coordination to effectively support children and families, and ensuring the irreversibility of reform. A comprehensive and flexible set of solutions is needed, especially focusing on prevention, which remains undervalued globally. Research, service development, and professional training must advance hand-in-hand.

Participation in the forum reaffirmed Moldova’s position as a leader in child care system reform and demonstrated that Moldovan practices can inspire and guide global reform efforts. Sharing these valuable experiences remains a priority, ensuring Moldova continues to serve as a reference point in international dialogue on best social work practices.