Social Support Services in Shymkent in the Focus of the National Commission

A delegation of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, consisting of Togzhan Kozhaly, Galina Grebennikova, and Bayan Zhandosova, paid a two-day visit to Shymkent.

The main purpose of the trip was to inspect the activities of Family Support Centers and Youth Health Centers.

At the Shymkent Family Support Center, lawyers, psychologists, and social workers provide daily assistance to hundreds of families. Since the beginning of the year, more than 2,000 families have sought consultation at the center. Of these, 435 were registered as being in difficult life situations, 288 families were provided with individual support plans, and 145 of these cases were successfully resolved.

There were 289 cases of domestic violence registered; seven victims were placed in a crisis center. In addition, 66 families were able to reconcile after conflicts that had nearly led to divorce.

The delegation also reviewed the work of the Youth Health Centers “Kameya Pharm Group,” “Sunkar,” and “Daumed.” Their main areas of activity include protecting reproductive health, suicide prevention, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Since the beginning of the year, staff have published hundreds of videos on social media, which were also broadcast on LED screens across the city’s main streets. Special public interest was drawn to the campaign “Family Hearth Under Reliable Protection”, which helped boost community engagement.

The delegation held a number of important meetings with local stakeholders, during which several challenges were discussed. Among them were the shortage of staff positions, lack of transportation for mobile groups, and low public awareness of the centers’ services. Proposals were put forward to open a new branch in the Abai district, strengthen information outreach, and expand cooperation with NGOs and volunteers.

Based on the results of the visit, the National Commission will develop recommendations aimed at improving the quality of services provided to families and youth.