To realize these goals, local authorities plan to construct additional centers for supporting and protecting children, pilot a day-boarding model to care for children living with HIV/AIDS, and develop a community-based protection system over the next two years.

Le Thu Ha from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs said child care and protection service system has been piloted in 63% of provinces and cities, helping reduce the rate of child victims of violence and abuse, among others, by 0.2% annually.

The model also contributed to increasing the rate of children receiving care and assistance to 72%.

However, she noted that efforts have yet to meet set requirements because system and staff capacity in the field remains limited, while interdisciplinary coordination in the field has not been effective.

Le Hong Loan from UNICEF Viet Nam said the 2015-2016 program will focus on supporting the formation of socially-sponsored centers and a staff network working in the field, while establishing interdisciplinary working groups to provide assistance, care and protection services to children in need.

Implemented in HCM City since 2010, the project was designed to improve the capacity of local authorities to thoroughly and effectively resolve issues related children, especially those in poor and vulnerable families, and within migration communities.