CARE International’s history in Romania
CARE first began working in Romania in 1947. In 2003 we shifted our focus to supporting disabled and abandoned children.
CARE now works in Romania through a long-standing partnership with Foundation SERA Romania, a local organization established in 1996.
CARE France began supporting SERA’s work in 2003, building on earlier efforts to help reform Romania’s child protection system. At the time, many children were living in large institutional care facilities with limited access to family support and basic services.
Together with national and local authorities, SERA worked to close these institutions and develop alternatives that prioritize family-based care. This included supporting foster care, family reintegration, and community-based services for children and families.
Over time, this work has contributed to major changes in Romania’s child protection system, helping shift away from institutional care toward more supportive, family-based approaches.
CARE and partners’ work in Romania today
CARE works through SERA Romania and local partners to support children, families, and communities. Our work focuses on:
Health
We help improve access to healthcare for vulnerable children, including those living with disabilities and those from low-income families. This includes support for recovery centers and community-based health services.
Food and water
We work with families facing poverty to improve access to basic services and support systems that help prevent child abandonment and family separation.
Making the economy work
CARE supports young mothers and families leaving the care system to build independent lives, including access to livelihoods, housing support, and social services.
CARE and partners also work closely with national and local authorities to strengthen child protection systems and expand family-based care across the country.
Focus on women and girls
Women and girls are the centre of CARE’s work in Romania.
CARE supports women and families through programs that promote family planning, access to information, and social support. These efforts reduce the risk of child abandonment.
CARE and our partners support women and girls to:
- Access reproductive health services and information
- Strengthen their ability to care for and support their families
- Access social support services when needed
By supporting women and families, CARE helps strengthen communities and improve outcomes for children across Romania.
