Day Care Centers to Reopen on July 1, 2020
Minister of Family, Labour and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk announced that day care centers will resume operations on July 1, 2020. According to the minister, the total number of day care centers has reached 123. As Turkey moves into a gradual normalization phase amid the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic, services are being resumed with appropriate precautions.
In her statement, Minister Selçuk noted that day care facilities provide full-time and part-time services for people with disabilities and that the total number of such centers is now 123. She added that these centers across 75 provinces will reopen from July 1, 2020, as part of the normalization measures.
Minister Selçuk’s Comments on Day Care Centers
Minister Selçuk reviewed the current status of day care centers, noting that the program launched at the end of 2018 has grown to 123 centers today. She emphasized that, following the coronavirus outbreak, these centers will continue to serve the community while implementing necessary health and safety measures.
Selçuk explained that day care centers were created to provide relief to families who care for a disabled relative at home, giving caregivers more time for themselves and helping people with disabilities participate more actively in social life. She said that centers organize services by disability type, gender and age group to better meet individual needs.
Within appropriately grouped programs, participants are supported by vocational instructors, professional staff and healthcare personnel and benefit from daily life activities and structured routines. Minister Selçuk noted that centers offer a range of programs, including agricultural rehabilitation, occupational therapy workshops, music and art workshops, and sports activities. Cultural and recreational activities such as music, theater and folk dance are also part of the services provided to enhance social participation and skill development for people with disabilities.
The Ministry will continue to monitor conditions and ensure that these centers operate in a way that protects public health while restoring essential services for families and individuals who rely on them.