Despite official de-institutionalization policies, the number of children living and cared for in residential institutions in Armenia has not seen any significant decrease in recent years. While some of these children are without parental care, many of them have at least one parent but are simply from so-called “socially vulnerable families” (i.e. families in an adverse situation or economic hardship).

Save the Children in Armenia is focused on campaigning for - and supporting the government in - developing and implementing stronger policies for family strengthening and family-based alternatives to care. By investing in foster care as a viable alternative to institutions, and ensuring that decisions regarding alternative care of children are guided first and foremost by the best interest of the child, Armenia can significantly improve the lives and future prospects of these children.