Number of children placed in state institutions and foster families growing

The number of children placed in foster or children's homes due to parental neglect has increased by around 30 percent since 2009, according to child welfare authorities. While fourteen years ago there were 18, 600 children living with foster parents or in children's homes, at the turn of 2022 their number had risen to 24,700. According to experts the most common reason for placing children in state institutions is parents’ inability to secure their basic needs such as food, hygiene, safety and housing. In a tenth of cases, the reason is child abuse or exploitation.