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Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has submitted a draft law that would overhaul the country's child protection system, significantly increase financial support for foster families and guardians, and strengthen children's right to grow up in a family environment.
The bill, registered in parliament on July 22 as No. 15438, was developed by the Ministry of Social Policy as part of Ukraine's 2024–2028 strategy on family-based child care.
Under the proposal, monthly payments for children under guardianship, foster care or family-type children's homes would increase by around 2.7 to 2.8 times, to approximately UAH 15,750–20,250 depending on the child's age. Support for children with disabilities would nearly triple to about UAH 24,750–29,250.
The legislation would also introduce a one-time payment of UAH 36,000 when a child is placed under guardianship or into a foster family or family-type children's home.
The draft law includes a range of additional reforms, including requiring child protection services to respond to threats around the clock, prohibiting the separation of siblings during adoption or foster placement except when it is in the child's best interests, and requiring adoptive parents to disclose the fact of adoption to the child while preserving confidentiality from third parties.
Other measures include creating a legal framework for Barnahus child advocacy centers, introducing a trusted guardian mechanism in the event of parents' death or incapacity, requiring private childcare institutions to register as social service providers, and establishing personal liability for child welfare officials who fail to comply with court-ordered child protection measures.
The government said the reform is intended to improve coordination among child protection agencies, strengthen support for vulnerable families, and ensure that every child in Ukraine has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and stable family environment.
