Lithuanian Child Welfare Re-evaluates Family Case After Infant's Death

Lithuanian child welfare authorities have decided to re-evaluate the situation of a family in Ukmergė after visiting them following the death of an infant. The head of the Vilnius regional department of the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service (VVTAĮT), Lina Baranauskienė, stated that the decision to re-assess the children's circumstances was made after a meeting with the mother, who agreed to cooperate in finding solutions for the children's best interests.

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At this time, final decisions regarding the family have not yet been made. After the meeting on Saturday and with the mother agreeing to cooperate, to jointly seek solutions for the best interests of the children, it was decided to re-evaluate the children's situation.

Baranauskienė explained that child rights defenders visited the family's home on Saturday, speaking with the mother. The father was not present. The goal was to discuss future cooperation and assess the family's immediate service needs. Information regarding the children's health will be clarified with their medical institutions, and a psychologist will interview the children. The VVTAĮT specialists are scheduled to meet with representatives from the Ukmergė district municipality on Tuesday to discuss necessary support for the family.

However, the family's representative, legal assistant Dalia Jasevičienė, claimed that an agreement was reached during the Saturday meeting that the children would not be removed from the family, with assistance from a mobile team and two other individuals. The VVTAĮT has not confirmed this specific agreement. Previously, the agency had issued a decision to remove six children from the family, mistakenly including the deceased infant due to a delay in receiving information about the death. The agency clarified that the infant's critical condition was not the sole reason for the decision to remove the children, citing concerns for their overall welfare.

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The purpose of the meeting was to agree on further cooperation possibilities and the initial need for services for the family, which was discussed.

While the decision to remove the children has been made, the VVTAĮT has not yet filed a court request. Baranauskienė indicated that the agency might change its decision if the parents cooperate. The family has been known to VVTAĮT specialists since 2018. Separately, prosecutors have launched a pre-trial investigation into the infant's death at Kaunas Clinics.

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It was agreed with the help of a mobile team and the mediation of two other individuals that the children would not be taken from the family.