The platform of the “Neighbourhood Nannies” programme (ntantades.gov.gr) opens today, Monday 27 April, for the submission of applications, which at this stage is exclusively for the registration of curators.
As Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou, the official care network includes not only professionals, but also people from the immediate family environment, such as grandparents and students, offering a modern and organised care framework for infants from 2 months to 2.5 years of age. At the same time, she noted that each caregiver can take care of up to three children, while parents are given the opportunity to change caregivers if they wish.
Talking on Wednesday 22/04 to ANT1 TV station, Michailidou emphasized the strict safety criteria that govern the operation of the program. As she explained, those interested are enrolled in the special register only if they have a clean criminal record and the necessary health certificates, while their inclusion requires a three-hour online training from the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family. At the same time, it is necessary to attend first aid courses from the ambulance service or the Greek Red Cross, so that childcare is provided in conditions of safety, responsibility and full protection.
The programme provides a subsidy of 500 euros per month to parents in full-time employment and 300 euros to parents in part-time employment or looking for work. For one child, the mother’s individual income can be up to 24,000 euros, for two children up to 27,000 euros, while no income criteria apply for families with more than three children. As the minister stressed, the criteria are flexible and have been designed so that the programme is addressed to as many families as possible who are in real need of support.
Finally, the minister made special reference to the possibility of participation of pensioners as trustees, specifying that they can work in the programme without any reduction or withholding of their pension. In this way, as he pointed out, the experience, availability and contribution of people who can actively support the family are utilized in an institutional way.
