Lost in administration and political interests Serbia’s child protection system is heavily focused on temporary foster care rather than adoption, a more stable solution for children. This system is plagued by bureaucratic inefficiencies, lack of specialist services, and political interference, leaving children and caregivers without adequate support. A recent incident involving a caregiver and a child without parental care exposed the deep flaws and systemic neglect within the system, which is also criticized for its financial allocations and slow processes.

• Serbia’s child protection system prioritizes foster care (temporary) over adoption (permanent), which is standard practice in developed countries.
• The system suffers from a lack of investment, understaffing, and insufficient development of specialized services.
• A public incident involving a caregiver and a child highlighted systemic failures, including bureaucratic delays and a lack of support.
• Adoption processes are lengthy and bureaucratic, with potential adopters facing inadequate training and support.
• The system’s reliance on foster care involves significant financial resources that critics argue could be better utilized.
• The article suggests that political interests and administrative hurdles impede the effective functioning of the child protection system.
• The system’s focus on temporary solutions like foster care can lead to instability and emotional distress for children.
• Early detection and intervention for children in need are often lacking.
• The system’s outdated structure, established in the 1990s, fails to address current societal needs.
• There are concerns that administrative processes and vested interests obscure the ‘best interests of the child’.