Aadress: Tiigi 55, Tartu 50410, Estonia
Tel: 37 2 7361641
e-mail: turvakodu@hot.ee
contact person: Piret Värno
Tartu Children’s Shelter is a municipal institution that works as a temporary shelter, and has beds for 20 individuals. We provide temporary help, support and protection for children, aged 3-18, and if necessary to the their mothers, in case they have been exposed to abuse and as a result are in immediate danger or suffer from neglect.
We admit children who
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miss parental care because their parent(s)/foster parent(s) have passed away or are missing, or because of serious sickness or incapacity of their parents, or because of the preliminary investigation or as a result of their parent’s incarceration, or as a result of forsaking, etc.;
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need temporary custody or supervision because of their parent’s errand, working in shifts, etc.;
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have been caught roaming in the streets;
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have run away from home, from their foster home or residential care because of subjective essential problems, like intolerable living conditions, mistreatment, unsatisfying material circumstances, conflicts with peers, mental crises, etc.
We admit mothers with children who
- seek shelter from mental or physical abuse;
- miss living place or are temporarily unable to live at home;
- suffer from any other social difficulties.
Besides, we provide the following services
Fee-for-childcare (2EEK – 3.50EEK per hour)
For short-term babysitting or childcare in crises situation, for example during lectures for university students, while going to theater or cinema, during errands or hospitalization of parents. Childcare is for children since three years of age.
Free meals for families who are in temporary financial difficulties
To get free meals for 10 days one should apply to one’s local child protection worker and write an application. After that it will be possible to take free meals from the shelter’s kitchen home to the family.
Providing clothing help
Now and then handing-out-days are organized (information is spread by local media) for the townsfolk to distribute second-hand clothes, footwear, and toys. One may come and ask for clothes any time while in difficulty.
Day care center
Day care center or afternoon center is open to children and youth of Tartu from Monday till Friday, at 2pm – 6pm. There is a special room, furnished with desks and computers to enable children spend time with different activities: to study, to read books, to play different board games, or use computers/internet. There are volunteers to help and support children who visit the day care center. In case of earlier arrangement it would be possible to get lunch and/or supper. In case of need and with earlier agreement the day care services can be provided during other hours and for older children.
