Romania



Bethany Social Services Foundation is a registered Romanian non-governmental, not-for-profit organization based on Christian principles. The mission of Bethany Social Services Foundation is to improve the lives of disadvantaged people, especially children and their families.

Bethany’s organization and staff of over 40 Romanian professionals work in accordance with social work ethics and principles as guidelines toward these primary objectives:

  • To help families develop the ability to solve problems and cope with hardships
  • To find permanent homes for children
  • To establish connections between people and the community resources which provide services and opportunities for children and families
  • To provide training and technical assistance to other professionals working in the child welfare field
  • To promote efficient delivery of social services

Since its inception in 1991, Bethany Social Services Foundation has focused on three distinct and equally important directions: to deliver professional social services to children and families; to increase the professional level of the services; and to increase community involvement in addressing child welfare issues.

THE NEED IN ROMANIA

Children at Risk of Abandonment: 28,302*
The rate of families at risk of abandoning their children is increasing. For children to be able to grow up with their biological families rather than in orphanages, families need counseling and support, education, assistance for pregnant women, affordable daycare, and reunification services.

Children Who Are Raised in Orphanages: 26,599*
We know from experience in other countries that as children age out of orphanages, approximately 10% are able to successfully adapt to independent living because the children do not develop adequate life and social skills. Data from Romanian officials confirms that children in orphanages are in desperate need of life skills education.

Children Registered for Protective Services: 73,793*
Children grow best in families. It is vital that in-country foster care, adoption, and reunification services continue to grow to meet the increasing demand.

*National Authority for Protection of Children’s Rights, (statistics from March 2007)

View 2006 Report (518 kb pdf)
View 2005 Report (683 kb pdf)
View 2004 Report (290 kb pdf)

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