53 children are being cared for by the state
THERE are 53 children being cared for by the state at a centre in Lefkoşa, the head of the Social Services Department revealed this week.
Speaking ahead of June 1 World Children’s Day, Hüseyin Akcan said in an interview with the TRNC news agency Tak that children at the Lefkoşa Çağlayan Orphanage are in need of “love” more than financial support.
He explained that the orphanage caters not only for children whose parents have passed away, but also those with “family problems” who require protection; children whose parents are unable to take care of them; and children from troubled families who are being kept under state protection while their parents are in the process of divorcing.
Stating that children up to the age of 16 are under protection in the orphanage, Mr Akcan gave information about how to adopt or become a foster family.
He said that marriage is no longer a condition for adoption and that a single parent can now adopt a child.
There are legal regulations for adoption or becoming a foster family, Mr Akcan said, such as obtaining a clean criminal record from the police and checks on a family’s financial and health status.
Social Services officers inspect the families and their residences and look into whether or not the families have any mental health issues. He noted that the process can begin after passing the necessary “psychological tests”.
Mr Akcan stressed, however, that “not every child in the orphanage can be adopted” due to legal reasons.
“We do not have the authority to give a child for adoption or fostering when their case is still pending,” he said.
“Not every child can be given to a family, nor is it possible to do so without a power of attorney from the parents.
“However, with the parents’ approval, they can be placed with a foster family.”
Mr Akcan stated that the process for adoption is “very long” but this period is shorter for fostering.
He added that if the family gives permission, a child can also stay with relatives on certain days, weekends or holidays.
The Çağlayan centre has not experienced any financial problems during the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Akcan said.
Labour and Social Security Minister Koral Çağman and his team have been “very sensitive on this issue” and there have been no problems in providing enough food for the children in care, he explained.
“What the children need is love, not material things,” Mr Akcan continued.
He also said that with recent renovations the Lefkoşa Çağlayan Orphanage’s building has been improved and a plot of land in Haspolat has been allocated to them on which to build a “House of Love” to accommodate older children.
The project will be completed within two years he said. Younger children will remain at the Çağlayan Orphanage.