15min wrote that the family, which attracted the attention of child rights defenders after the death of a two-month-old baby, does not cooperate with specialists.
The head of the Vilnius County Department, Lina Baranauskienė, at that time stated that it was agreed with the mother that psychologists would come on Tuesday to listen to the children’s opinions.
However, a little more than an hour before the meeting, the family representative informed that the parents had changed their minds – they did not let the specialists into the house and did not answer calls.
Decisions – next week
Child rights defenders were prepared to visit the Žlabiai family on Wednesday because of this. However, the meeting did not take place on Wednesday either.
“Child rights defenders made and are making every effort to adapt to the family’s possibilities. Today, upon receiving information about the changed family circumstances, we were ready to meet with the children at any place convenient for them, at a time convenient for them. After the family refused this offer, the meeting time was postponed,” said the service representative L. Baranauskienė in a sent comment.
“Currently, the meeting is scheduled for Friday. We hope that the scheduled meeting will take place and that child rights defenders will be given the opportunity to hear the children’s opinions,” she added.
According to the child rights defender, after gathering all the necessary information, final decisions will be made next week.
“We invite to resolve arising questions through constructive cooperation,” emphasized L. Baranauskienė.
Ruginienė also spoke
On Wednesday, the Minister of Social Security and Labour, Inga Ruginienė, also spoke strictly regarding the Žlabiai family.
She told the news agency ELTA that if the Žlabiai refuse to cooperate with child rights defenders, their children will have to be taken away.
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“The Child Rights Protection Service is trying to find that contact because there were some indications that the family would engage and accept help. Our main goal is for the family to accept help and for the children to grow up in as safe an environment as possible. (…) But if the family refuses to accept help, then appropriate decisions will have to be made,” stated I. Ruginienė.
“The decision has been made that the children must be taken, but the state’s goal is not to take children away from the family. The state’s goal is for the family and children to have all kinds of support. That is what we offer the family, and there is great hope that the family will accept that help. But if the family completely refuses that help, then, as I have said, our priority is the safety of the children,” she asserted.
Baby died
15min reminds that the Child Rights Service had decided to take all seven children from the Ukmergė family, including the baby who died at Kaunas Clinics, about whose death the service was not informed.
Doctors became suspicious of neglect because the two-month-old girl was brought to Kaunas Clinics at the beginning of July in critical condition, very weak, weighing less than 2 kg, and lacking subcutaneous fat.
Genetic tests revealed that the baby suffered from Patau syndrome. About 90% of babies with Patau syndrome do not survive the first year of life, and some die within the first weeks of life.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation to assess whether the parents delayed seeking medical help. Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer published documents showing that in June, child rights defenders who conducted an inspection based on a complaint decided that the children were safe in the family.
The State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service previously stated that the decision to take the other six children from the Ukmergė family could be revoked if the parents agreed to cooperate.
“Decisions have been made, but we invite, hope, and very much await the parents’ cooperation,” L. Baranauskienė told journalists last Thursday.
She emphasized that “the goal is for the children to grow up in their family with their parents, and in this case, it is definitely possible to find opportunities by selecting appropriate support measures for the children and the family.”
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