Türkiye's “Children Are Safe” teams have connected nearly 10,000 at-risk children with extracurricular programs so far this year, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said Sunday.
In a written statement shared on social media, Göktaş said that the teams established across Türkiye carry out identification and intervention efforts to monitor and protect children from different risk groups.
"Children Are Safe teams, which work with schools to identify children at risk to support their healthy development, have directed 9,842 children toward arts, sports and social activities. In addition, 8,619 children have been included in the Social and Economic Support (SED) program," Göktaş said.
She added that these teams conduct field screenings, offer professional guidance for children and their families, visit households and educational institutions. They also carry out monitoring and social service interventions focused on identifying risks, providing protection and taking preventive measures.
Göktaş said the teams have reached some 344,511 children from different risk groups and conducted numerous family visits.
Emphasizing that school-based work is a key component of the "Children Are Safe" initiative, Göktaş said teams consisting of at least two social workers in each province are matched with schools in cooperation with the Education Ministry.
The mobile teams meet with school counseling services, administrators and teachers, while also speaking with students and their families to identify the needs of children who are frequently absent from school or require additional support.
Göktaş said the needs of children and their families are identified following meetings with families, after which children receive the necessary support and continue to be monitored in their family and school environments.
She said 68,854 children have been interviewed during school and family visits conducted by the teams since the initiative began in 2019.
