The Institute of Social and Sociosanitary Care (IASS) of the Cabildo de Tenerife has announced a call for individual financial assistance for members of the biological family or relatives of minors recognised as being in a state of helplessness who are in residential foster care, as well as those young individuals who have been supported within the island’s reception network. The initial funding is set at 78,600 euros, which may increase to 120,000, facilitating everything from the purchase of prescription glasses to dental, speech therapy, or psychopedagogical treatments.
Aim
The aim of these grants, which operate on a non-competitive basis and have doubled in amount over the past eight years (from 36,000 euros in 2017), is to address situations of need or social emergency that have not been met by other public administrations or organisations. These grants also aim to support family reunification and promote the social integration of young people who reach adulthood within the protection system.
Cases
Assistance can be provided directly to the beneficiary or through an indirect approach, where the service provider or supplier is paid solely for the services rendered. Eligible expenses are those pertaining to basic needs, accommodation, transport, and mobility, whether within or outside the national borders, as well as socio-health, vocational training, and school-related expenses derived from intervention plans or extraordinary needs as necessary.
The grant facilitates the purchase of prescription glasses or dental treatments
The grants for urgent needs will be dispensed immediately; in particular, those relating to food, hygiene, clothing, electricity, or water supplies. Shortfalls concerning accommodation such as rent payments, transport, or mobility costs, as well as educational and school-related needs, are also treated as urgent. These grants typically range from 500 to 1,500 euros, depending on each individual’s or family unit’s income capacity. Specifically, vocational training courses, both regulated and unregulated, are capped at 300 and 500 euros, respectively. For schoolchildren, such as nursery or dining room expenses, the assistance can reach up to 400 euros.
Requirements
The application form and guidelines are accessible to interested parties at the IASS General Registry, located on Galcerán Street in Santa Cruz, at the Citizen Services Centre of the Cabildo, and in the decentralised offices. They are also available on the website www.ias.es. Applications may be submitted until 28 November.
Dimension
To provide context for the issue, the Canary Islands hosted 5,800 minors in February of this year, including over 4,000 migrant youths awaiting relocation to other regions. The Autonomous Community has supported around 1,700 young people aged between 17 and 21 years through the specific Emancipate programme since its inception in 2018.
