Opening Doors: Lessons Learned and Recommendations to Strengthen Families

Opening Doors: lessons learned and recommendations to strengthen families and end institutionalisation for children in Europe.

The transition from institutional to family- and community-based care has received growing support from the European Union and its Member States. On one hand, the EU has been issuing policy guidance and allocating significant amounts of EU funds while, on the other hand, countries across Europe are increasingly adopting strategies or action plans to shift away from institutions. More and better family-based care options are available for children unable to grow up with their families of origin.

Since 2013, we have joined forces under the Opening Doors for Europe’s Children campaign to influence and monitor these developments at national and European level, using our expertise from the ground.

As the Opening Doors campaign comes to an end, we should not forget that this journey is far from over. Much more needs to be done to ensure that no child grows up in an institution, to prevent placement in alternative care for reasons of poverty, disability or other discriminatory practices, and to build strong child protection systems that ensure children are not harmed.

Read the final report here.