UNICEF Europe & Central Asia 29d ago

Following the escalation of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, nearly 2,500 children were evacuated from residential care institutions in Ukraine to Poland for their immediate safety. They were placed in facilities across Poland, ranging from large institutions accommodating 100-500 children to much smaller care facilities. A new care model has been developed and implemented in three locations in Poland in close partnership with local authorities and experienced NGOs. The model is aligned with national standards and is based on small, family‑type care settings, with children accommodated in houses hosting up to 14 children. These homes are staffed by trained caregivers from both Ukraine and Poland, ensuring continuity of care, cultural sensitivity, and language support. Starting from May 2026, responsibility for continued support to children in small group homes transitions to the Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy through the ESF+ project “Deinstitutionalization of Polish and Ukrainian Foster Care - Developing Systemic Solutions Focused on the Individual Needs of Children and Youth”, ensuring long-term sustainability and system-level integration beyond the emergency response.