Press Release by the Ministry for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights: All Children and Youths’ Alternative Care Services Under One Roof

Reference Number: PR211161

The Directorate for Alternative Care (Children and Youths) within FSWS is building a centre which shall house fostering and adoption services, those for looked after children, supervised access services, medical care by the directorate paediatric consultant and specialised nurses, services for youth in alternative care and aftercare, as well as the Directorate’s socio-legal services. The investment for this building shall be over €2 million. 

The Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children’s Rights Dr Michael Falzon and the Chief Executive Officer Mr Alfred Grixti, together with other professionals in this area visited the building which is nearing completion. This project  forming part of the Government for the People campaign, shall continue to bring social services closer to the community. 

The Minister explained how in 2013 this Government had made an electoral promise to set up an agency for fostering and adoption. “We have not only kept this promise, but we established a Directorate which is focused on alternative care for youths and children which thanks to this building, shall be able to operate from one location.” The new building allows families to find everything in one place: rooms for supervised visits, rooms which are all planned according to children’s needs  and where over 200 Directorate staff shall be offering their services. 

Alfred Grixti, the Chief Executive Officer of FSWS said that this building is expected to commence operations as from June 2022. “Apart from being modern, this building is built according to the highest health and safety standards and is accessible for everyone. Most importantly this building shall  be used by those children under alternative care, youths and families in need so that they can form positive aspirations to build their future.”