Guidelines for implementing regulations on alternative care for children

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Ministry of Health issued Circular 16/2025/TT-BYT regulating the division of authority of local authorities at two levels in the field of mothers and children.

Ministry of Health guides the implementation of regulations on alternative care for children

Implement the reporting regime of the results of the Month of Action for Children

According to the Circular, the authority to receive reports on the results of the Month of Action for Children is stipulated in Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular No. 28/2019/TT-BLDTBXH dated December 26, 2019 of the Minister of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs guiding the organization of the Month of Action for Children, which is implemented by the Provincial People's Committee.

Implementation procedure: The People's Committee at the commune level sends a report on the results of the Month of Action for Children to the People's Committee at the provincial level before July 20 every year.

Implement the reporting regime for the results of organizing children's forums.

The authority to receive reports on the results of organizing children's forums is prescribed in Clause 4, Article 14 of Circular No. 29/2019/TT-BLDTBXH dated December 26, 2019 of the Minister of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs guiding the organization of children's forums, implemented by the People's Committees at the provincial level.

Implementation procedure: The People's Committee at the commune level synthesizes and sends a report on the results of organizing the children's forum to the People's Committee at the provincial level no later than 15 days from the end of the children's forum.

Implement regulations on alternative care for children

The Circular clearly states the regulations on receiving the list and records of children being cared for at facilities in need of alternative care as follows:

According to the Law on Children, alternative care is the act of an organization, family, or individual taking in children for care and nurturing when the children no longer have parents; children are not or cannot live with their biological parents; children are affected by natural disasters, catastrophes, or armed conflicts to ensure the safety and best interests of the children.

Every 6 months, the head of the social assistance facility is responsible for making a list and records of children being cared for at the facility who need alternative care and submitting them to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee for approval according to their management authority as a basis for finding individuals and families to provide alternative care for the children.

The Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level where the individual or family registering to receive alternative care resides is responsible for receiving the list and records of children in need of alternative care approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee managing the social assistance facility under their authority and assigning them to the commune-level child protection officer to carry out activities to support alternative care for children according to regulations.

Regarding determining children eligible for alternative care, according to the Circular, the authority to determine children eligible for alternative care is stipulated in Clause 2, Article 5 of Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BLDTBXH dated November 28, 2020 of the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs guiding the implementation of regulations on alternative care for children approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee according to the management authority.

Regarding counseling for individuals and families selected for the list of alternative care recipients, the Circular clearly states that the authority to advise individuals and families selected for the list of alternative care recipients as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 7 of Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BLDTBXH is carried out by specialized health agencies under the People's Committees of the provincial level, the People's Committees of the commune level, and child protection service providers.

Coordinate respite care

The authority to coordinate the receipt of alternative care for children as prescribed in Clause 4, Article 7 of Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BLDTBXH is implemented by the People's Committee at the commune level.

The implementation procedure is as follows: The People's Committee at the commune level shall review and compile a list of individuals and families in need of alternative care; periodically send monthly information on children and individuals and families in need of alternative care to the People's Committee at the commune level where the individuals and families in need of alternative care reside to continue providing alternative care for children according to regulations.

The authority to receive requests for connection and referral of services for children at the commune level and to coordinate and connect to help children access services according to the support and intervention plan for children prescribed in Point b, Clause 1, Article 10 of Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BLDTBXH is implemented by the People's Committee at the commune level.

The responsibility for performing the tasks specified in Clause 2, Article 15 of Circular No. 14/2020/TT-BLDTBXH is performed by the People's Committee at the commune level.

This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2025 and expires from March 1, 2027.

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/huong-dan-thuc-hien-cac-quy-dinh-ve-cham-soc-thay-the-cho-tre-em-102250624142418679.htm