Child Protection in Lithuania

Abstract

Abstract This chapter expounds on the child protection system in Lithuania. The development of a system of child protection coincides with the necessity to create a political and administrative apparatus for state administration. Additionally, large-scale residential childcare is a prominent form of guardianship of children deprived of parental care. Thus, the separation of siblings, isolation of disabled children, and delinquent children are widespread across the country. Changes in the institution of social work and child psychologists were influenced by the desire to create an independent child protection system in Lithuania and Lithuania’s ambition to join the EU. Child protection reform was enacted slowly following the ratification of the UNCRC.