Turkish Family Ministry plans expansion in Europe

By Burcu Calik

ANKARA

The Family and Social Policy Ministry is planning to expand its service for Turkish families living in Europe, the ministry said Tuesday.

The “family attache” system would be extended through 20 new offices to support Turkish families in Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the U.K., according to a statement from the ministry.

Since the system was established in the German city of Dusseldorf in 2015, it has handled at least 600 cases of Turkish-origin families.

The ministry aims to rehouse children with Turkish foster families rather than with Europeans.

Over the last year, it has recruited 110 ethnic Turkish families to ensure children grow up in their own culture.