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 |  | | RVF forms partnership with city of St. Petersburg and local NGOs to integrate and enhance medical and social services for abandoned and neglected youth | The problems of neglected children and youth have become acute in most major cities of the Russian Federation. It is estimated that up to two million children in Russia live on the streets. These disenfranchised young people are subject to acute and chronic problems of health and social well-being. For example, according to |  | | Street Children in St. Petersburg |
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| statistics, every third street child is HIV positive.
As a first step in addressing the plight of street children in the city, the Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation (RVF) has partnered with the Russian Orthodox Church, the St. Petersburg government, and major NGOs in an effort to integrate and enhance the multiple services available for abandoned and neglected children. Under the umbrella of the St. Petersburg-based Diaconia Charitable Foundation, representatives of the various partner organizations are directing resources to three areas of action: | | | | • | Creation of a central electronic data base of all city services available from NGOs and government agencies for abandoned and neglected children | | • | Creation of a pilot crisis line for troubled adolescents based in the Admiralty District of St. Petersburg. The crisis line, to be launched in September 2008, will be staffed by professional counselors who will make a rapid assessment of callers’ issues, offer counseling on the spot and – as necessary – activate the available resources of NGOs and government agencies in the city to provide medical assistance and/or longer term psychotherapy to the caller. | | • | Support of an outdoor youth camp near St. Petersburg where adolescents - under the guidance of skilled counselors - have the opportunity to experience the outdoors and build self-esteem. The program includes training in team work and leadership, as well as the acquisition of practical outdoor skills. |
| | | In 2009 the partnership plans to open a full-service rehabilitation center for adolescents to facilitate the re-integration of disaffected youth into society. The absence of such a center in Russian society is a serious obstacle in making a long-term positive impact on the health and emotional well-being of troubled youth. The rehabilitation center is intended to be a model to be replicated in other major Russian cities.
The strategy underlying all RVF programs is to create mechanisms of sustainability by modernizing the health care and social services infrastructure while avoiding the establishment of parallel structures. Thus the initiative described herein is being planned and implemented by professionals from local government agencies and non-profit organizations active in the targeted area of concern. RVF staff will monitor and assess progress and work with the partner organizations to address problems as they arise. | | |
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The Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation (RVF) is a non-political, non-partisan organization whose mission is to make a difference in the health and wellbeing of vulnerable children...
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