New foster group homes opened in Narva
Three new group homes for 24 orphans have been opened today in Narva, costing 1.4 million euros.
The homes are part of a 17.1-million-euro project, co-funded by the EU, Switzerland and the Estonian government. The Ministry of Social Affairs began building child-friendly homes for parentless or abandoned children in 2008, with construction complete in Pärnu, Vinni, Viljandi, Narva-Jõesuu, Haapsalu, Tartu, Elva, Kuressaare and Juuru.
The last two homes in the project will also be finished this year, in Valga and Põlvamaa.
At the end of last year, a total of 2,556 children were in Estonia's foster care system. 1,009 children were in similar group homes such as the new houses in Narva. 216 were with foster families and 1,331 with relatives such as grandparents.
Editor: J.M. Laats