Elena Bastidas, deputy spokesperson for the GPP and deputy secretary for social policy in the Valencian People’s Party, called on Aitana Mas to halt short trips to study alternative management models for children’s centers and to immediately settle all debts owed to the companies that operate centers in the Valencian Community.
Problems
Bastidas argued that the real issue lies in addressing the structural problems within social services in the Valencian Community. She urged Puig to direct the Vice President to focus on resolving payment delays and contract renewals for firms that provide essential services to the most vulnerable residents, rather than dodging responsibility.
The deputy spokesperson noted that councils overseeing children’s centers, employment services, and elderly care facilities are anxious about the future. She stated that this is part of the culture within the left-wing tripartite Council, where those who work with the most vulnerable are not paid on time.
Aitana Mas Stakes Third Botànic at Alicante Forum
The discussion about Mas’s recent activities included the pilot Barnahus program, which aims to deliver comprehensive care for children and adolescents who have experienced abuse or violence in Castellón. Mas announced her trip to Reykjavik to observe the Icelandic Barnahus model, a child-friendly approach to handling cases of abuse that brings all involved services into a single, coordinated setting outside police stations and hospitals.
Mas highlighted that Barnahus combines the relevant departments into one unified service to support child survivors. The model has been tested and established across several European countries and aligns with the goals promoted by international bodies and major NGOs for safeguarding children. The Vice President noted that Barnahus is designed to ease reporting for young victims and to streamline the actions of medical, police, and judicial authorities involved in cases of child harm.
Officials emphasized that the Barnahus approach integrates health, law enforcement, and judicial processes to improve the handling of child rights cases. The UN has highlighted the value of this model, and it is being used to guide improvements in the Valencian Community as part of ongoing reforms to better protect minors and support families affected by abuse and violence.