DAMMAM: There are 3,700 orphaned children in the Kingdom who are not living with families, with 1,300 cared for by the Social Affairs Ministry and the other 2,400 by various charities.

However, 8,600 children have found homes with foster parents. The ministry’s agency for social and family welfare has the responsibility of providing care for those who have social, health, psychological and economic problems.

The agency tries to prepare the children to become independent in various shelters across the country. These shelters provide them with a family atmosphere, food, clothing, education and recreational activities.

The ministry stated in 2015 that the agency offers nurseries for small children whose parents are not known. These nurseries provide a suitable environment for children under six years of age. Special services include depositing money into a bank account for them. There are five nurseries in the Kingdom and 14 welfare homes — nine for boys and four for girls.

The ministry tries to provide homes for children with foster families. Some families take children into their care on a permanent basis as their own offspring, while the state pays other families to provide care for SR2,000 a month for those under six years of age, and SR3,000 for older children.

The benefits for alternative families include a once-off payment of SR20,000; and marriage aid for orphans amounting to SR60,000. There is also monetary support for married women, divorcees and widows. These families are also allowed to get passports for the orphans so they can travel.

The ministry stated that programs help to provide counseling for minors between seven and 18 years of age who come from troubled homes. These children are kept in shelters until it is safe for them to return home. There are five such shelters in the Kingdom.

There are also 17 other types of shelters holding those who have broken the law. These children are too young to be sent to other types of correctional institutions and cater for those between the ages of 12 and 18.

Other homes cater for those who have special talents, between six and 18 years of age, which include programs run by experts.