Currently, 24,000 orphans and children with abusive or negligent parents are under coverage of the State Welfare Organization, of whom 9,800 are living in 600 welfare centers across the country.
The rest are in foster care, living temporarily with foster families, said Mohammad Nafariyeh, director general of children’s affairs at the SWO.
“Foster parents can’t be permanent adopters since biological parents can claim custody of their children after they ‘sober down’ and are deemed eligible by a court to fulfill their responsibilities,” IRNA quoted him as saying.
Social experts believe that living with a good foster family even for a short while is better than residing at the best welfare centers. Almost all the substitute families are benefactors.
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