Table 3. Degree of Socialization foi Six Groups ol It-onagers wit

Varying Chemical Dependency and Desire foi (liange
from chemical dependency; two thirds of them make their living by

stealing. While re-socialization lor these groups is not required, preventive

measures are hampered by the fact that these teenagers are

unwilling to change anything because their parents often shield them

from the consequences of their wrongdoing. Representatives of group

3 resemble normal kids of overly-anxious parents who insist on a

"treatment course" lor their children on the slightest evidence.

Groups 5 and 6 are not so socially adaptive as groups 2 and 3.

However, given that almost Г)()(,„ of these groups are homeless and that

5 7% of group 6 and 4 1 "<, of group 5 are orphans, it becomes obvious

that their level of social adaptability is nothing else but their personal

achievement. They want to change their lives. They are trying to defy

the system that is dragging them to the bottom (see above).

Conclusion: groups 6 and 5 have the best prospects for re-socialization.

JUST A N O I N T R DAY

By: Gallina Komova (social worker)

It was a cold winter day with strong gusts of icy wind. We met as

usual at Kurskaya subway station in the center of the vestibule from

where we started our itinerary without any hope for successs. And

indeed, we saw nobody...

Coming back from Alekseevsksay subway station (the last stop

on our itinerary) in the pedestrian underpass we had a glimpse of

something painfully familiar right in the middle of the crowd of indifferent

passers-by. A confused boy in oversize boots and a thin shabby

windcheater.

I le was looking aroud in confusion, clutching to a large plastic bag

(with some toys, as we saw later).

We decided to talk to him. At first, he didn't answer and we

almost made our minds to leave the frightened kid alone. Finally, he

responded. It turned out that the boy had only a smattering of

Russian. We decided to buy him some food. I bought a kilo of tangerines,

a bottle of juice and a bagel. He put everything in the bag,

which somewhat surprised me.

We decided to see him "home". Along the way, the kid gradually

got accustomed to us and even somehow told us his story.

About five years ago he came to Moscow from Dagestan with his

elder brother. The brother found a job, married a local girl and the boy

was staying with him. When the brother died, his widow simply threw

the boy out. In order to survive, he found a job at an open market and

some dwelling in the outskirts of Moscow. Not every 9-year old would

have been capable of anything like this.

We got off at Rizhskaya and went through the market down the

winding, practically deserted road. That place almost scared me. But

it only was a shortcut to the railway platform. We got into the train to

get warm — toward the evening, the wind increased and was turning

into a snowstorm. The boy didn't want us to accompany him until the

end, but we agreed to meet on the next day at the market (of course.
he didn't show up either forgetting or being undisposed, which is

probably not so important now).

We gol off feeling so sad. and our tears were slowly turning into

ice. A little boy all by himself in a huge world where nobody needs him,

with little hope of any assistance or even understanding from adults.

And all he owns is a yellow toy truck and a couple of tin men —

mementos from the so far away childhood that ended so abruptly.

HOMELESS AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN RUSSIA:

A BRIEF SURVEY 01 VARIOUS APPROACHES

TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE

By: N.KIuinanus/iL'ili

The current status of the homeless and neglected children issue in

Russia is perceived by many government and non-government organizations

as nearly catastrophic.

Isolated data ((noted by officials representing government bodies

in charge of law enforcement, social protection, education, sociological

and statistical organizations clearly indicate the absence of precise

and reliable information on the number of homeless and neglected

children, not to mention an established systemic notion about the

principles, procedures and methods of working with these underprivileged

categories of population.

Depending on the source. I l k ' total number of homeless and neglected

children varies anywhere from 360 thousand1 to 2 and even 5

million2.

It would be reasonable to assume that this kind of data variation

stems from the fact that the higher figure quoted approximately indicates

the number of neglected children, while the lower — the number

of homeless children.

At the same time, a lot is being done in many Russian regions to

assist both neglected and homeless children.

In accordance with the definition of Article I of the federal law

1 I'D-17 "On the Basic System for the Prevention of Juvenile

Delinquency and Neglect" dated June 24, 1999:

"Neglected children are minors without no parental control due to

a failure to perform (or improper performance) of duties relating to the

According to I I K ' Ministry of the Interior, every year the police are booking approximately I million

minors for various delinquent activities, sonic 'МП) thousand teenagers arc registered by the police as

delinquents: http://www.mvdinform.ru/news/6587/.