The officials of the two countries are working to implement the Social and Economic Support service, which has been put into practice by the Ministry of Family and Social Services to protect the foster care system and family integrity, in Azerbaijan as well.

A joint study was initiated when Sahil Babayev, the Minister of Labour and Social Security of Azerbaijan, wrote a letter to Derya Yanık, the Minister of Family and Social Services, and requested cooperation for the implementation of the foster care model in Turkey in his own country.

A work plan was created in the meetings held by the officials of the two countries online, and within this scope, visits were made to Turkey to conduct on-site investigations. Azerbaijani officials, who visited foster care units and foster families in Istanbul and Ankara, met with foster families and young people who grew up within foster families.

Activities planned to be carried out in 2022

In line with the results of the studies, a framework plan has been prepared for the year 2022. In this context, supervision support will be provided to the child protection field officials of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Azerbaijan for the establishment of the foster care service model and SED service model in Turkey this year.

In Azerbaijan, where there is a multi-structured system in child protection services, Turkish experts will conduct on-site investigations on foster care. After the basic structure of foster care service is established in Azerbaijan, 60 personnel working in the field will be given 10-day training on the implementation of foster care service by experienced professionals in Turkey.

Support will be provided for the creation of basic documentation to be used in the field of foster care service in Azerbaijan, and periodic distance trainings will be continued for the personnel. Within the scope of the activities, it is aimed to provide consultancy support to the personnel working in Azerbaijan for a year, and to increase the cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan by carrying out new projects in the field of child protection.

In addition, if the foster care service in Azerbaijan starts to be implemented as a pilot program, it is foreseen that a foster family from Azerbaijan will be invited to the program in Turkey for the Foster Family Day celebrations on June 30, 2022.