Children's Welfare Program – One of the Indicators of Social Effectiveness of State Management

Abstract

For the last decade, various reforms in the direction of child protection and well-being have been intensively carried out in Georgia. Despite the fact that the current policy has definitely improved the legal status of children in Georgia, there are still a number of challenges in ensuring children's well-being. The Codex of Children's Rights ratified by the Parliament of Georgia is analyzed highlighting both its positive achievements and challenges. Additionally, the children's welfare program is explored as a pivotal benchmark for assessing the efficacy of governmental social management. Furthermore, the comprehensive metric for assessing the well-being of children – The Child Material and Social Deprivation Index – is discussed. This index signifies the presence of both material and social deficiencies in a child's life, indicating family's insufficient financial means to fulfill the child's fundamental needs for growth and development, encompassing essentials such as nourishment, clothing, age-appropriate literature, toys, and recreational activities. This approach facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of child well-being compared to solely focusing on monetary poverty. It encompasses not only access to fundamental necessities but also factors essential for the child's holistic bio-psychosocial development.