Río Negro reforms child protection system with new Casas Abrigo

The province of Río Negro is reforming its child protection system by transitioning its Comprehensive Care Centers for Girls, Boys, and Adolescents (CAINA) into 'Casas Abrigo' (Shelter Homes). This reform, recently presented in Ingeniero Jacobacci, aims to move away from a strictly institutional model toward a system focused on care, emotional support, and the respect of individual life trajectories.

Ayelén Ramírez, the Undersecretary of Exceptional Rights Protection Measures, stated that the name change reflects a new model of care intended to create loving and respectful environments. These spaces provide temporary residential care for minors who must be separated from their families due to exceptional circumstances.

The province prioritizes family-based care alternatives before residential placement, such as placement with extended family or through the 'Familias Rionegrinas Solidarias' program. When residential care is necessary, the Casas Abrigo are designed to guarantee access to essential rights, including health, education, recreation, and the right to participate in decisions regarding their daily lives.