Luis Abinader creates new agency for residential child protection

President Luis Abinader has issued Decree 676-26 to create the Servicio Nacional de Atención Residencial (SEÑAR), a new government agency dedicated to managing residential homes and protection centers for children and adolescents under state protection.

As a decentralized body attached to the Ministry of the Presidency, SEÑAR will operate under the technical supervision and regulatory guidance of the Consejo Nacional para la Niñez y la Adolescencia (CONANI). The agency aims to provide specialized care based on factors such as age, gender, developmental stage, and risk levels. It will also coordinate with the Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Service (SNS) to ensure medical and psychosocial support.

A Transition and Implementation Commission, composed of representatives from various ministries including Finance, Justice, and Public Administration, will oversee the establishment of the agency. The goal is to increase residential care capacity by at least 30% by the time SEÑAR begins formal operations on January 1, 2027.