Russia’s bold reforms reshape foster care with mentorship and stricter rules

Russia has expanded its support for vulnerable children through new mentorship schemes and stricter foster care rules. The changes come as part of broader reforms aimed at reducing reliance on residential institutions. By the end of 2025, around 3,000 orphaned children had already been placed with foster families.

The government introduced a nationwide mentorship initiative to help at-risk children, though no single programme is named as responsible. The closest match is Care Credit, a national scheme pairing apprentices in difficult training situations with volunteer adult mentors. Meanwhile, Russia’s own mentorship push has grown, with over 360 trained mentors now working across 20 regions. As of 2025, all mentors must hold professional certification.

Child welfare agencies have also seen major changes. Staff numbers have increased by 3.3 times, allowing for closer monitoring of families and children’s living conditions. A new system of mandatory annual assessments now checks guardians’ reliability, including reviews of income, health, housing, and criminal records. These stricter criteria were rolled out in 2025 to improve child safety.

Deinstitutionalisation efforts have cut the number of residential care facilities by 24%. The child population in these institutions has fallen by 54%, as more children are placed with relatives or foster carers. Official figures show 20,798 children currently classified as orphans or without parental care, with 82% now living in family-based settings. When possible, children are first placed with close relatives to maintain family bonds.

The reforms mark a shift toward family-based care and tighter oversight of guardians. With more mentors, stricter checks, and fewer children in institutions, the system aims to provide safer, more stable environments. The government continues to prioritise foster placements over residential care where possible.