7. Facilities for children »»»» 7. Facilities for children 3 visits to a children’s home, educational institution and facility for children requiring immediate assistance The Defender consistently draws attention to three systemic problems in the provision of care for vulnerable children and their families: the number of children living in institutions is too high; children under 3 years of age are placed in institutions; and the responsibility for the provision of services is fragmented. In addition, social housing is lacking. Round table after the series of visits In 2016, we visited a total of 9 facilities for children requiring immediate assistance. The details on the subject of inquiry and the findings are summarised in last year’s annual report, on pages 21 and 22. 2016 Annual Repor The summary report we are preparing will describe which of the ascertained problems could reach the level of ill-treatment. Round tables with representatives of the visited facilities and other experts serve us to clarify systemic and individual causes of the discovered flaws and to formulate recommendations for the individual facilities, for bodies for social and legal protection of children and for the competent ministry. ―― The environment of institutional care itself poses a risk of ill-treatment. ―― If a child is removed from the care of its family as an emergency measure, the child and family require immediate expert and crisis assistance. ―― Facilities for children requiring immediate assistance should serve their mission in terms of providing a crisis asylum, rather than for long-term placement of children in an institutional environment. 23