© Didier Weber / RTL
A conference organised by Caritas over two days brought together various panellists to discuss how best to support children and families in precarious situations. Key points highlighted included better cooperation, engaging with affected individuals, and streamlining procedures.
Prime Minister Luc Frieden emphasised that the government is already addressing the issue with the involvement of several ministries. He concurred with the conference's conclusion that one ministry alone cannot solve the issue. Frieden mentioned that the government is still fine-tuning its solutions.
Carole Reckinger, political spokesperson for Caritas, proposed a concrete measure that could directly benefit children and families: the state advancing alimony payments. She explained that single parents, often in precarious situations, might not have the means to sue the other parent for alimony in court. If the state advanced the payments, it could later reclaim the money through other means.
In general, Reckinger highlighted the challenging situation of single parents. She argued that general government handouts are not sufficient in this context. Instead, prioritising child care placements for children of single parents is crucial. If a single parent is unable to work, poverty is almost inevitable, Reckinger warned.
Jerry Fellens, Director of the Solina Foundation, stressed that those actively involved in the field need proper resources to work with children and adolescents, ensuring the interests of younger generations are always prioritised. Fellens also stressed the importance of monitoring and evaluating the quality of social institutions by external actors, rather than by the institutions that provide the funding.
Another conclusion from the Caritas conference was the need to simplify complicated procedures for obtaining aid. Minister for Family Affairs Max Hahn assured that his ministry will work towards this goal. He mentioned the development of a digital tool that will recognise other aids an individual is eligible for once they apply for one. However, no timetable for implementation has been announced.
Both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Family Affairs pledged to collaborate with those actively involved in the field to develop effective measures.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
