The Ozon Center

The Ozon Center is a pioneering child protection Center in Moscow which aims to support families to prevent children being received into institutional care. The impetus and ideas for the development of such a Center came from professionals working at the Moscow Institute of Childhood. In 1993, they formed a non-governmental organization, The Child Abuse Protection Foundation (Obschestvo Zaschita ot Nasilia). The underlying concept of the Child Abuse Protection Foundation is that development of local practice should also inform the development of policy. This is to ensure that improvements in childcare are made sustainable and are shared. The new Ozon Center has been developed in order to meet these goals, in practical work with children and their families, as well as developing policy and training for those working with victims of abuse. Since September 1996, the Ozon Center is housed in premises provided by the Moscow Central Department of Education in the Basmannyi District of Moscow. The Ozon Center works through four programs:

1. Help for children who have suffered abuse.
   The Center provides diagnostic assessment and psychotherapeutic services for children.

2. Work with families.
   The assessment of family functioning and work with families to promote change.

3. Prevention of cruelty to children.
   An education program for children and parents, and training for professionals. This includes a new sexual abuse prevention program that is being prepared for schools and kindergartens.

4. Social Policy.
   Research into child abuse, public awareness programs, and influencing policy in relation to protecting children from abuse.

In addition to these programs, the Center has organized a telephone help-line for children up to 18 years old. This began in February 1997, and is available seven days a week.

Last updated:    June 1997

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

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