The establishment of a therapeutic home for children in state care who have more serious mental health needs, with the capacity to provide intensive treatment on a 24-hour basis for a limited period of time, is already under discussion, as Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Tina Pavlou stated on Monday. She noted that she has already discussed the matter with the Minister of Health and that she will also meet with the Minister of Education next week.
Speaking to reporters after the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Ms. Pavlou noted that currently about 400 children are in state care, of whom 97 are in institutions, while the overwhelming majority are in foster families, which is the goal of the system.
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As she noted, “a major gap” for a subgroup of children who require more intensive mental health services, noting that there was even discussion of the possibility of creating a short-term facility, a “therapeutic home,” where children could receive intensive mental health treatment on a 24-hour basis.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the issue cannot be addressed by a single ministry or agency, as the needs of children in state care have become more complex and their vulnerability has increased.
“No Deputy Ministry, no Ministry, and no agency can serve these children on its own,” she said, emphasizing the need for “the closest possible cooperation and collaboration” with other agencies.
Trauma and the Gap in Mental Health
Ms. Pavlou placed particular emphasis on the need for prevention and systematic mental health support for children living in children’s shelters.
As she noted, these children have already endured traumatic experiences within their families, and being separated from their families is itself a traumatic experience. “So unless this process is strengthened, the problems they will face will only get worse,” she said.
She noted that mental health services are currently available, but not “on the systematic basis we would like,” adding that a child’s visit to a psychologist alone cannot address the needs of children with complex and serious problems.
The Deputy Minister said that the goal is to support young children from an early age, but also to address the difficulties faced by adolescents in care, even when these are extreme, so that their rights are safeguarded.
“All of us adults in the system are responsible for these children. It is our responsibility; it is not solely the responsibility of Social Welfare Services. It is the responsibility of all of us,” she emphasized.
Runaways are a symptom of deeper problems
When asked about cases of children running away from shelters, Ms. Pavlou said that the circumstances surrounding each child are examined on a case-by-case basis and emphasized that running away is not necessarily linked to the behavior of the staff or the system.
She even mentioned that, from her personal experience, she has seen cases of children running away from drug rehabilitation centers as well, noting that “the reasons run deeper.”
She emphasized, however, that every report is thoroughly investigated and that such incidents require the treatment the children need.
During the session, Maria Kyratzi, Director of Social Welfare Services, reported that more than 65% of children in state care are placed with foster families, 11% are in independent living programs, and 24% are in residential facilities.
These facilities include children’s shelters for children aged 5 to 13 and shelters for adolescents.
Ms. Kyratzi also noted that in 2021, there were 38 children who had run away, a number that had dropped to five by the end of 2025, attributing the decrease largely to better coordination of services, particularly in the shelters for adolescents.
The cases raised by the Committee
The Committee’s discussion took place against the backdrop of specific incidents that raised concerns about the protection of children in state care.
The Committee Chair, AKEL MP Christos Christofides, referred to audiovisual footage from December 2025, in which a child was seen outside a shelter crying, calling for his mother, and begging for the door to be opened. A citizen notified the police, while Social Welfare Services had initially stated that they were unaware of the incident.
Mr. Christofides also referred to the case involving three sisters, aged 14, 15, and 17, who left a children’s shelter on June 30, 2026. The three were prosecution witnesses in a serious case of long-term abuse involving their family environment.
Mr. Christofides emphasized that children’s shelters cannot be turned into prisons, but they do require effective protocols for prevention, early intervention, and protection, especially for high-risk children.
Concerns about children out of school and substance use
The session also highlighted the need to prevent children from being excluded from education.
Ms. Pavlou noted that the number of children receiving home schooling has decreased significantly over the past three years, mainly due to the operation of day centers and the availability of related services.
She emphasized, however, that children with delinquent behavior—whether in state care or not—must be supported so they do not fall outside the educational system.
“The ultimate goal, however, whenever we have an alternative system, is to reintegrate them back into regular school,” she said, noting that, in her experience, reintegration occurs “very smoothly and very effectively.”
On the issue of substance use, Ms. Pavlou reported that in 2025, of the 17 adolescents who received services at Agia Skepi, six were children in state care due to substance use. Almost all of these children were out of school and enrolled in home-based education.
She added that none of them refused education and that they were working hard at their studies. The Deputy Minister said that the system has failed and has pushed these children out of school.
The Need for Prevention and Coordination
Ms. Kyratzi noted that for a child to be admitted to Agia Skepi, they must be “clean,” creating a gap for children who first need detoxification and then treatment, and that there is no specific facility for these children to enter.
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Elena Perikleous, called on the government to shift from crisis management to prevention, emphasizing that children under state protection must have an organized support plan and a unified protocol among the relevant ministries.
As she stated, the state removes children from their families to protect them and cannot then fail to protect them within its own institutions.
On the part of the Ministry of Education, it was noted that there are support programs, including home-based care and special education, alternative education through SEFE, as well as the procurement of specialized mental health services through the DRASE program. As mentioned, a program involving school social workers has also been in operation since this year.
Timeline for Solutions
Ms. Pavlou stated that there should be no delays in addressing these issues.
When asked about the timeline for implementing the proposals discussed, she said that, provided no legislative changes are required, “in the next six months, we could implement many of the measures we want to put in place.”
If legislative action is required, he added, the goal is “to see results within the next year to a year and a half.”
“Every day that passes, every year that passes, is at the expense of these children,” he said.
Statements by Members of Parliament
AKEL MP Anastasia Hasikou described the issue as very serious and sensitive, noting that once a child is removed from his or her family, the state assumes a greater responsibility toward them. As she said, it is not enough to provide children with shelter and food; a safe environment must be ensured, with effective and independent oversight and adequate monitoring mechanisms. He also pointed out that significant shortcomings had already been documented as early as 2022 and wondered what has changed since then, citing recent allegations and testimonies from adults who had lived in child protection facilities.
Ms. Hasikou noted that during the committee discussion, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare acknowledged and recognized several shortcomings, while assurances were given regarding improvements in the area of mental health. She expressed concern, however, about whether the procurement of services might hinder coordination among the relevant agencies, while also noting the significance of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights’ statement that he would reexamine the issue. “It is not enough to say that a system exists; we must be able to say that this system works, is monitored, and truly protects children,” she emphasized.
Litsa Drousiotou, a member of parliament for ALMA-Citizens for Cyprus, noted that the committee discussion revealed “major gaps” both in the coordination of government agencies and in the availability of transitional facilities for children facing serious problems. As she explained, when a child is identified as using substances, there is currently no appropriate intermediate facility to take the child in, with the result that they are either transferred to a children’s shelter, causing problems for the other children there, or to Agia Skepi, where their condition due to substance use may create similar difficulties.
Ms. Drousiotou emphasized the need for the state to create the necessary structures, as well as for the Ministries of Health and Education to assume their respective shares of responsibility. At the same time, she underscored the need for better coordination among government agencies to ensure the well-being and education of children, as well as their reintegration into society by boosting their self-confidence.
Source: CNA
